An Antiquities Ministry official left Cairo on Monday to follow up on developments of selling statue of Sekhemka, of the fifth dynasty, in London.
The ministry earlier addressed the Foreign Ministry to take necessary measures to stop selling of the statue made of colored limestone.
Mamdouh al-Damaty, minister of antiquities, said the ministry noticed that Northampton Museum, located in England, displayed the statue and promoted it for selling.
Damaty added that the national council for museums has been addressed to stop the selling. He rejected trade in Egyptian cultural monuments especially by international museums, adding that obtaining the monuments illegally prevents it from being sold.
Ali Ahmed, head of recovered antiquities department, said the statue was gifted to Northampton Museum at the 18th century. It has been displayed there since 1849. Ali added that statue was likely granted by a king from the Ottoman era.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
