Munich begins work on Egyptology museum

Work officially began Wednesday on what will one day be one of the world's great Egyptology museums, with Cairo represented by ambassador Mohamed al-Orabi at the foundation stone laying in Munich. The German city, which is in a permanent race with Berlin to show off the greatest art treasures, is erecting the 88-million-euro (129-million-dollar) building next to the three Pinakothek museums devoted to western art.

To be completed in 2010, the glass and bare-concrete building will gather treasures currently stored at various sites and also contain a film-studies college.

Sealed inside the foundation stone were objects typically placed in ancient Egyptian graves and a film camera made 40 years ago.