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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - The second of three giant parts of Ethiopia's 1,700-year-old Axum obelisk looted by Benito Mussolini's troops was welcomed home Friday.
The first part of the funerary monument taken by the Italians arrived in Axum, 530 miles north of the capital, Addis Ababa, on Tuesday, 68 years after Mussolini ordered troops to take the treasure to mark the 15-year anniversary of his march on Rome. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and other senior officials are expected to fly to Axum on Monday to head celebrations when the final piece returns to the small wind-swept town that was once the center of an ancient and powerful kingdom.
Small celebrations greeted the arrival of the Antonov cargo jet that flew in early Friday carrying the 58-ton top section of the intricately carved granite monument.
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