: a+ I5 \2 C* F. b8 ^0 w# j. \- C. U0 U5 Q6 n* Q" U, H' T
British Museum 'welcomes investigation with Chinese over artefacts'8 D/ |* \. M# \0 h& K, h; W t
% R3 s) U3 B R" o" q
The British Museum has said it would welcome a joint investigation with Chinese researchers into controversial artefacts that were looted by British and French troops from the Old Summer Palace in Beijing 150 years ago. " q) B4 Z! B' E" a$ ~ ; |: o+ @6 r, q- ?7 R! r) x6 T% ]7 R" x& J
Two bronze animals heads taken from a fountain inthe Old Summer Palace were auctioned in Paris in defiance of objectionsfrom the Chinese government who had called for the sale to be cancelled