Some 44 archaeological artefacts stolen following the US invasion of Iraq, have been returned to the local authorities in the southern city of Nassiriya.

The Iraqi newspaper al-Zaman reports that the artefacts, which date back to the era of the Sumerian civilisation around 4,000 years ago, were stolen by civilians, who returned them on Tuesday after hearing appeals from the Iraqi authorities and fatwas (religious edicts) issued by Shiite Imams calling on people to protect the country's archaeological assets.