Parliament warns Italy over return of Axum Obelisk

The Ethiopian parliament has warned that diplomatic ties with Italy could be cut in a mounting row over the ancient Axum Obelisk, which was taken from the country over 60 years ago.

MPs in the federal parliament on Tuesday called for tougher action against the Italians for the return of the historic relic, plundered by Italian troops in 1935. They passed a five-point resolution demanding its immediate return and called on the international community to step up the pressure.

Ahmed Hasen, chairman of the Information and Cultural Affairs Standing Committee in Ethiopia, condemned Italy's refusal to hand back "looted artefacts".

“The international community should challenge the Italian government,” he told over 380 MPs during the two-hour debate. “What we are left with is a popular move and an international effort. Only after exhausting these initiatives and efforts can we believe that we should take a stronger resolution."

“We may even take measures of cutting diplomatic ties,” he warned. “I hope they [the Italians] give meaning and attach importance to the resolutions of this parliament.”

The 3,000 year-old monument was looted from the holy city of Axum on the personal orders of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and erected in Rome where it still stands. Calls for the return of the 400-tonne obelisk have increased in the last few weeks after it was hit by lightning and damaged during a thunderstorm in the Italian capital.

Hailekiros Gesese, chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Affairs Standing Committee, accused Italy of taking advantage of a poor country.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi made an impassioned plea to international heads of state during the recent World Food Summit in Rome to return the treasured relic.

A spokeswoman from the Italian embassy in Addis Ababa commented that the ultimate decision on the return of the obelisk lies with the government in Italy.