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Zahi Hawass, media-savvy guardian of Egypt's past

Egypt's antiquities chief Zahi Hawass, at 62, still bubbles with excitement whenever he announces the latest discovery of a tomb or relic, his eyes lighting up under the brim of his trademark Indiana Jones-style hat.

Aside from his love of the media limelight, Hawass is locked in battle to assert Egypt's sovereignty over its heritage, even if that means crossing swords with the world's most prestigious museums.

His style and patriotism will be on show again on Wednesday when he holds a press conference to announce the DNA results on the mummy of boy-king Tutankhamun, the pharaoh whose origins have mystified scholars.

Read entire article at AFP