EGYPT: Protecting King Tut's gold mask and other treasures

The Egyptian army secured Cairo's famed antiquities museum early Saturday, protecting treasures that include the famed gold mask of King Tutankhamun from looters.

The greatest threat to the Egyptian Museum first appeared to come from the fire engulfing the ruling party headquarters next door Friday night as anti-government protests roiled the country.

Then dozens of would-be thieves started entering the grounds surrounding the museum. Suddenly other young men — some armed with nightsticks taken from the police — formed a human chain outside the main gates on Tahrir Square in an attempt to protect the collection inside.

“I'm standing here to defend and to protect our national treasure,” said Farid Saad, a 40-year-old engineer.

Twenty-six year-old Ahmed Ibrahim said it was important to guard the museum because it “has 5,000 years of our history. If they steal it, we'll never find it again.”

Four armored vehicles eventually took up posts outside the massive coral-colored building in downtown Cairo. Soldiers surrounded the building and moved inside to protect mummies, monumental stone statues, ornate royal jewelry and other pharaonic artifacts.

— Associated Press

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Image: Protesters gather outside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Credit: Mohamed Omar.

Comments

[whitee]

leave it to the Times to censor everyone!

[Shahid]

Though the chosen path is not appropriate but what else the poor people of Egypt could do to oust the worst dictator in the Arab world.
Mr Mubarak should respect the will of his people and should leave.

[Katrina]

This post definitely makes it appear that the Egyptian people/protesters are being violent and ignorant toward their country and it's delicate history.
From what I've been reading and viewing via BBC television, considering American coverage of this issue is sparse...
Christian protestors are protecting Muslim churches from open fire, arson and violence, and vice versa. Egyptian police are cold water hosing PEACEFUL protestors engaged in prayer...
The media is not telling the entire truth. Violence is erupting from both sides. Many Egyptian police officers are siding with the protestors; they understand that their human rights are being affected as well.
Before fingers are pointed, both sides must engage in peaceful dialouge. Who will step up to the plate and make a stand for what is right? What is humane?

[DJ6ual]

The Tear Gas (Smoke Bombs) Used Against Egyptian Protesters were also Used at G-20
http://dj6ual.viviti.com/entries/news/the-tear-gas-smoke-bombs-used-against-egyptian-protesters-were-also-used-at-g-20

[Joe]

Good move by Egyptians, that's first thing westerners will go after a chaos (tangible materials), Mubarak regime sealed his fate after locking down Gaza in 2008, more power to Egyptian peoples!