France confirms will hand back Egyptian murals

PARIS (Reuters) - France will return five segments of an ancient Egyptian tomb mural held by the Louvre museum, committee, Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said Friday.

The provenance of the fragments, which Mitterrand said were acquired in good faith by the Louvre between 2000 and 2003, was called into doubt in 2008 after the discovery of the tomb from which they were believed to have been taken.

Mitterrand said in a statement the decision to return the murals underlined France's determination to fight the illegal traffic in cultural objects.

Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities had asked France to give back the murals and had suspended cooperation with the Louvre until the issue was resolved.

Friday, a museum committee recommended that the murals be returned. The ministry said the move would be implemented immediately.

Under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) convention of 1970, countries agreed measures to prevent the illegal export of national treasures.

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Angus MacSwan)