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Turkey Asks Getty Museum To Return Antiquities

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The government of Turkey is asking the J. Paul Getty Museum to return several artifacts that it believes were looted and smuggled out of the country.

The Los Angeles Times reports Saturday that the Turkish government has contacted the Getty along with several other American museums to present evidence that objects in their collections may have been illegally excavated from the country's archaeological sites.

None of the museums facing requests from Turkey would name the contested objects. The Times, citing a list provided by Turkish officials, says the country is asking for 10 objects from the Getty. They include four marble muses on display at the Getty Villa's Basilica gallery.

Getty spokesman Ron Hartwig said the museum has had ongoing talks with Turkey, and declined to get into specifics.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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