Ancient pharaonic paintings that sparked feud between Egypt and the Louvre to return to Luxor

Ancient Egyptian wall paintings to return to Luxor

CAIRO — Egypt’s antiquities chief says the wall paintings that caused a feud between Egypt and the Louvre Museum will be returned to their original location in a tomb south of Egypt.

In a statement Wednesday, Zahi Hawass says the ancient pieces will be restored by experts and replaced on the wall of a 3,200-year-old tomb in Luxor, 320 miles (510 kilometers) south of Cairo.

Hawass cut ties with the Louvre in October, saying the museum had refused to return the fragments, which he said had been illegally chipped from that tomb.

French officials quickly agreed to hand over the fragments.

During a visit to France this week, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak inspected the pieces before they were handed back.