Egypt warns UNESCO heritage

The United Nations organization urged the Egyptian cultural authorities and protesters on Tuesday to protect the country's heritage and respect freedom of expression during the ongoing political crisis.

There have been reports of attempted looting in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and elsewhere Historal popularity, as well as citizens assume a duty to establish a cordon to protect the heritage of their nation.

"My compassion goes first to the victims of civil strife and their families," said UNESCO Director Irina Bokova, as the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said that according to unconfirmed reports, a total of 300 people have died in the fight against the government riots.

"Egyptian cultural heritage, both in its monuments and artifacts are part of the ancestral heritage of humanity, come down to us through time," he said in a statement from UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

"The value of the 120,000 pieces in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo is invaluable, not only in scientific or financial, but because they represent the cultural identity of the Egyptian people.

"The test, hundreds of people spontaneously formed a chain around the museum to protect it," he said.

"I solemnly request that all necessary measures taken to protect the treasures of Egypt, in Cairo, Luxor and other cultural and historical sites around the country."

Bokova also expressed concern that the regime of President Hosni Mubarak has cut off Internet access and resorted to arrest and harass journalists in an attempt to stay in power.

"It is crucial that both the national and foreign press are allowed to fulfill their duty to inform the public from an objective viewpoint," he said.

Bokova spoke as thousands of demonstrators gathered in Cairo for the biggest day of protest yet in the popular revolt against the regime of Mubarak.