This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-33918502
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Zimbabwe bones may be held in UK museum | Zimbabwe bones may be held in UK museum |
(35 minutes later) | |
The UK's Natural History Museum has said it may hold Zimbabwean human remains in its collection. | The UK's Natural History Museum has said it may hold Zimbabwean human remains in its collection. |
However, it could not confirm whether they were the "skulls of beheaded heroes" which President Robert Mugabe referred to earlier this week. | However, it could not confirm whether they were the "skulls of beheaded heroes" which President Robert Mugabe referred to earlier this week. |
Zimbabwe's leader had demanded the return of those killed by the British in the late 1890s during the first uprising against colonial rule. | Zimbabwe's leader had demanded the return of those killed by the British in the late 1890s during the first uprising against colonial rule. |
He made the remarks at the shrine to remember the country's war dead. | He made the remarks at the shrine to remember the country's war dead. |
"We are told that skulls of our people, our leaders, are being displayed in a British museum and they are inviting us to repatriate them," he told the crowd. | |
"We will repatriate them, but with bitterness, questioning the rationale behind decapitating them." | "We will repatriate them, but with bitterness, questioning the rationale behind decapitating them." |
Known as the heroes of the "First Chimurenga", they were defeated by the British after a protracted battle and the ringleaders were tried and hanged. | |
What happened to their bodies has always remained a mystery. | What happened to their bodies has always remained a mystery. |
Zimbabwe's liberation struggle: | Zimbabwe's liberation struggle: |
The UK Foreign Office has now confirmed that talks have been going on since December 2014 over the "potential repatriation of Zimbabwean human remains". | The UK Foreign Office has now confirmed that talks have been going on since December 2014 over the "potential repatriation of Zimbabwean human remains". |
It said technical experts from Zimbabwe have been invited to meet their museum counterparts in London. | It said technical experts from Zimbabwe have been invited to meet their museum counterparts in London. |
"We await the appointment of the required Zimbabwean experts in order to take this forward," the statement said. | "We await the appointment of the required Zimbabwean experts in order to take this forward," the statement said. |
But the BBC's Africa correspondent Alastair Leithead says it is not clear if the remains are of the rebellion leaders. | But the BBC's Africa correspondent Alastair Leithead says it is not clear if the remains are of the rebellion leaders. |
The Natural History Museum, which has a collection of 20,000 human remains, said it "actively engages in discussions with governments and communities" over requests for the return of human remains. | The Natural History Museum, which has a collection of 20,000 human remains, said it "actively engages in discussions with governments and communities" over requests for the return of human remains. |
More from the BBC's Alastair Leithead on Zimbabwe: | More from the BBC's Alastair Leithead on Zimbabwe: |
Triumvirate retains firm grip on power | Triumvirate retains firm grip on power |
Previous version
1
Next version