Iraqi FM hands over 173 returned antiquities to culture ministry

Iraqi Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Abdul Amir al-Hamdani (L, front) displays an artifact to the Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hakim (R, front) in Baghdad, Iraq, July 29, 2019. Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hakim on Monday handed to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities 173 artifacts that were returned from several countries. A statement by the Foreign Ministry said some of the artifacts were looted and smuggled outside Iraq before being returned through coordination. (Xinhua)