AFROMET press release 06 September 04

Afromet supporters in the UK and the USA have been invited to take part in demonstrations to press the Italian government to return the obelisk that Mussolini removed from Axum, northern Ethiopia, in 1937.

The UK demonstration will take place outside the Italian Embassy at 14 Three Kings Yard, London, W1 (near Grosvenor Square) from 11.30am to 2pm on Tuesday 14th September.

A parallel demo will take place outside the Italian Embassy in Washington DC on the same day from 11.30am to 2pm (US time).

Ethiopia has campaigned to get the obelisk back for more than five decades. But Italy has so far failed to hand over the national treasure, despite promising to do so at least three times.

The granite column, thought to be about 2,000 years old, was taken from the holy city of Axum in northern Ethiopia when Italian dictator Benito Mussolini invaded the country.

Late last year there were signs of hope when workers started dismantling the monument and removing it from its location on a busy roundabout just down the road from the Colosseum.

Ethiopians were assured that it was put into storage at Rome airport while the authorities made arrangements for its transport.

But it now transpires that it is sitting in a police yard covered by a tarpaulin. So far, no concrete plans have made for its return.

Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper last month called it a "national embarrassment". There are claims that there is "no budget" to pay for the obelisk's transportation to Ethiopia.

Professor Richard Pankhurst OBE, of Addis Ababa University, and members of Afromet have helped organise both events.

Prof Pankhurst, the son of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst, today urged as many people as possible to attend. "Please join us for all or part of the demonstrations, if you possibly can," he said. "It is important that as many people as possible attend."

For further information on the London demo contact Gail in the UK on 020 7838 3880, mobile 07717 603163

For further information on the Washington DC demo contact Kokeb in the US on Work: 202.535.1771, Home: 301.249.1308, Cell: 301.233.6456.