Ethiopian obelisk to return home

It's been confirmed in Rome that Italy it is to return one of Ethiopia's most famous monuments -- an obelisk which was looted by Italian fascist troops in 1937.

The Axum obelisk was taken down and cut into three pieces before being shipped to Italy on the personal orders of Mussolini, whose forces had invaded and occupied Ethiopia.

At present, the monument stands in front of the Colosseum in Rome.

The Italian deputy foreign minister, Reno Serri -- speaking during a visit to the Horn of Africa -- told the Ethiopian government that the obelisk would be sent back in the coming weeks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service