Stolen Egyptian paintings found

Egyptian police recovered nine paintings stolen from an Egyptian palace museum more than a week ago after an anonymous phone tipoff, state news agency MENA said today.

The paintings of 19th century ruler Mohamed Ali and his relatives were removed from their frames and taken from a former palace in northern Cairo nine days ago.

Egyptian artefacts are often stolen and smuggled abroad, but security services tightened normal controls after the theft to prevent removal of the paintings from the country, state news agency MENA said.

Those responsible for the theft have not been found.