Egyptian village to be bulldozed to reach tombs

GURNA - Bulldozers have moved into an Egyptian village near the Valley of the Kings to resettle 3200 households for the sake of archaeology.

Some 3500 years since thieves first broke into the nearby tombs of Tutankhamun and other rulers, the bulldozers picked at four uninhabited mudbrick houses, apparently to show that the Government is serious about moving out the people.

The inhabitants of the village of Gurna said they strongly opposed the resettlement plan, which will cut them off from access to the tourists on whom most depend for a living.

Moving the people 3km away to new homes will enable archaeologists to reach more than 50 tombs in the area.

- REUTERS