LONDON - A British parliamentary committee is to examine the controversial issue of the Elgin Marbles --pieces of the frieze of the ancient Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens.

The Parthenon was partially blown apart during a war with the Turks in 1687. The marbles were removed by Lord Elgin with permission from the Ottoman ruler of Greece between 1804 and 1815 and were installed in the British Museum in London.

In recent years Greece has been campaigning for their return.

Greece has been campaigning for the return of the "Elgin Marbles."

The marbles were removed by Lord Elgin with permission from the Ottoman ruler of Greece between 1804 and 1815.

Now, with so much international debate going on about who can rightly hold what others might see as part of their national patrimony, the British Parliamentary Culture Committee will hold an inquiry covering major works of art either stolen or dubiously acquired by the nation's museums and public galleries.

The culture secretary, Chris Smith, is said to be unhappy with the way the British Museum has tried to cover up evidence that the Elgin Marbles were scraped clean 60 years ago in order to improve their appearance –a fact that undermines the museum's contention that the marbles have been well protected in its care.

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