In an escalating conflict over a famous 3,400-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti, the head of Egypt's antiquities authority has threatened to ban exhibitions and tours of Egyptian artefacts from Germany.

Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, had requested the sculpture for a temporary exhibition. But German officials say the iconic artwork is too fragile to travel.

Upping the ante, Hawass on Sunday told his country's parliament that he "will never again organize antiquities exhibitions in Germany if it refuses a request, to be issued next week, to allow the bust of Nefertiti to be displayed in Egypt for three months..."

"To lend the Nefertiti bust would be irresponsible," the German culture minister said...

"They fear we will be like Raiders of the Lost Ark and we will take it and not give it back," said Hawass...

Schulenburg, though, said Germany's sole concern was preserving the artefact.

"The ownership of Nefertiti by Germany is not in question," he said...

Egypt Vows "Scientific War" If Germany Doesn't Loan Nefertiti, Dan Morrison, national geographic News, District of Columbia, USA, April 18, 2007.

cf. Nefertiti travels campaign to start up a public debate about Nefertiti ... on whether the antique bust of the former Queen of Egypt can now travel to Cairo to be shown in her country of origin for the first time.

Previously:

Berlin museum rebuffs threat over Nefertiti, April 17, 2007.

Egypt threatens German ban in Nefertiti row, April 16, 2007.

Nefertiti Is Too Fragile to Visit Egypt, German Minister Says, April 13, 2007.