[MSN] Turkish police seize Van Gogh painting supposedly looted from Iraq. After the 1991 Gulf War people were arrested in Turkey trying to sell Picasso paintings supposedly looted from Kuwaiti museums. These paintings were subsequently found to be fakes.

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Turkish police seize Van Gogh painting supposedly looted from Iraq
By DPA
Jul 12, 2006, 19:00 GMT



Ankara - Five Turkish nationals have been arrested after they attempted to
sell a Van Gogh oil painting that they claimed had been stolen from an Iraqi
museum, the Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday. 

Police officers acting as interested buyers agreed to purchase the painting
for 500,000 U.S. dollars. The five were arrested in the western Turkey town
of Canakkale when handing the painting over. 

The painting was handed over to arts experts from Canakkale University to
determine whether the painting is a genuine Van Gogh or a fake. 

Following the 1991 Gulf War a number of people were arrested in Turkey for
trying to sell Picasso oil paintings which they claimed had been looted from
Kuwaiti museums. All of the paintings were subsequently found to be fakes.