BAGHDAD (AFP) -- The American authorities are set to return more than 1,000 priceless Iraqi artifacts smuggled out of the country after the U.S.-led invasion five years ago, the Iraqi government said on Monday.

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Qahtan Abbas said in a statement the items would be given to Iraq's embassy in Washington, without giving details of the artifacts or when they would be returned.
With the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in April 2003 following the U.S. invasion, there was massive looting of Baghdad's antiquities museum and countless historical sites around the country.
Iraq is described as the cradle of civilization, with some of the first evidence of complex urban life appearing within its borders around 3,000 BC.
Baghdad is keen to capitalize on some 10,000 historic sites across the country to attract tourists.
Abbas said Iraq's friends should help ""contribute to the restoration of Iraq's rich heritage"" and return the countless number of artifacts smuggled out in recent years.
He said the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, Ryan Crocker, and the former commander of U.S. troops, General David Petraeus, had promised action to return the valuables and to help rebuild museums.
Baghdad has already asked other countries not to allow the sale of stolen Iraqi antiques on their soil.