Egypt to demand Nefertiti's return from Germany

Egypt will formally ask Germany to return a bust of Queen Nefertiti after a Berlin museum official presented papers showing the 3,400-year-old treasure was taken unethically, according to Egypt's antiquities chief.

Zahi Hawass said in a statement that documents presented by the head of Berlin's Neues Museum confirmed that Ludwig Borchardt, who found the bust, tried to pass it off as a less significant find to secure it for Berlin.

With almond-shaped eyes and a swan-like neck, Nefertiti has caused a rift between Egypt and Germany, each intent on having the bust that draws millions of visitors from around the world.

"These materials confirm Egypt's contention that Borchardt did act unethically, with intent to deceive: The limestone head of the queen is listed on the protocol as a painted plaster bust of a princess," the statement said.

Friederike Seyfried, director of the Egyptian Papyrus Collection at Berlin's Neues Museum, where the bust is on display, will liaise between Mr Hawass and German officials to resolve the dispute over the artifact, it added.

The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which runs the German museum, could not be reached for comment.

But in a statement, it denied that Mr Seyfried was meeting Mr Hawass to negotiate the bust's return, saying the documents proved the Prussian state acquired the bust lawfully and Egypt had no legal claim to it.

Objects were registered precisely, and outstanding finds such as Nefertiti were photographed in a way that reflected their beauty and quality, the foundation said.

"The cases stood open for appraisal," it added. "There can be no talk of deception."