It's a "disaster", Unesco says

Priceless statues, manuscripts and other treasures were taken away in a wave of lawlessness following the collapse of the government of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad last week.

"It didn't have to happen", Martin Sullivan - who chaired the President's Advisory Committee on Cultural Property for eight years - told Reuters news agency.

The tragedy was not prevented, due to our nation's inaction Martin Sullivan committee chairman

"In a pre-emptive war that's the kind of thing you should have planned for," he said.

In his letter of resignation, Mr Sullivan - who also heads a historic commission in Maryland - called the looting a "tragedy" and said many other Americans shared his feelings.

'Open floodgate'

His disquiet was echoed by Richard S Lanier and Gary Vikan of the 11-member committee composed of experts and professionals from the art world.

According to the Associated Press, Mr Lanier - director of a New York foundation - attacked "the administration's total lack of sensitivity and forethought regarding the Iraq invasion and loss of cultural treasures".

PRESUMED MISSING 80,000 cuneiform tablets with world's earliest writing Bronze figure of Akkadian king - 4,500 years old Silver harp from ancient city of Ur - 4,000 years old Three-foot carved Sumerian vase - 5,200 years old Headless statue of Sumerian king Entemena - 4,600 years old Carved sacred cup - 4,600 years old Pictures from ransacked museum

And Mr Vikan - director of Baltimore's Walters Art Museum - criticised the American failure to curb "what is now an open floodgate", the agency said.

As well as the national museum in Baghdad, a museum in Mosul was looted and the capital's Islamic Library, which housed ancient manuscripts including one of the oldest surviving copies of the Koran, was ravaged by fire.

The UN's cultural agency Unesco has called the loss and destruction already suffered as "a disaster".

The US has pledged to recover and repair the items looted.