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There were also accounts of pilfering at an antiquities storage depot at Qantara and anecdotal reports of tomb raiding at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara.
In London, the British Museum said the Egyptian Museum housed objects "of unique importance to world heritage."
"It is a matter of the greatest concern that these irreplaceable objects should be fully protected to ensure their safety and survival for future generations," it told AFP.
In Paris, the Louvre said it was "very closely" following the situation. A team of French archaeologists, on a dig at Saqqara, had decided to return to France as site access had been closed for security reasons, it said.
UNESCO chief Irina Bokova pleaded for "all necessary measures" to be taken to preserve Egypt's treasures and secure the country's historical sites.
"Egyptian cultural heritage, both its monuments and its artefacts, are part of the ancestral heritage of humanity, handed down to us through the ages," she said on Tuesday.
"The value of the 120,000 pieces in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo is inestimable, not only in scientific or financial terms, but because they represent the Egyptian people’s cultural identity."
But the country's newly appointed minister of antiquities, well-known egyptologist Zahi Hawass, on Thursday played down accounts of the break-in at the Museum and warned against "rumours."
In a posting on his blog (www.drhawass.com/blog/state-egyptian-antiquities-3-february-2011), Hawass said the incident at the museum resulted in "70 broken objects, all of which can be restored."
"I want people to know that after nine days of protests, the monuments are safe," Hawass said. "If anything happens, I will announce it."
He explained that the fire brigade was deployed close by to intervene if need be. His blog featured pictures of heavily armed troops stationed in his office and behind the museum's high railings.
Hawass added that "nothing is damaged or stolen" at Saqqara, but confirmed that six boxes had been stolen at Qantara.
He did not say how many objects had gone missing, but said 288 objects had been returned, adding that he was sure the others would also be restored to the authorities.
An Egyptologists' website (http://www.eloquentpeasant.com/about/) showed pictures of some of the smashed cabinets and damaged statues at the Egyptian Museum.
"This is heartbreaking. These artefacts have survived for millennia only to be destroyed in a matter of minutes," said one contributor to its comment page.
Another major area of speculation was what exactly happened in last Friday's break-in.
French archaeologist Jean-Pierre Corteggiani, speaking on RTL radio, said it seemed to be an "operation aimed at discrediting the movement" to oust President Hosni Mubarak.
In Berlin, Friederike Seyfried, director of the Egyptology Museum which houses the celebrated bust of Nefertiti, said Egyptologists were desperate for solid news.
"I have tried several times to join my counterparts in Cairo, but it is understandable if they've got other things to do rather than take calls from Berlin," she said.
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In London, the British Museum said the Egyptian Museum housed objects "of unique importance to world heritage."
"It is a matter of the greatest concern that these irreplaceable objects should be fully protected to ensure their safety and survival for future generations," it told AFP.
In Paris, the Louvre said it was "very closely" following the situation. A team of French archaeologists, on a dig at Saqqara, had decided to return to France as site access had been closed for security reasons, it said.
UNESCO chief Irina Bokova pleaded for "all necessary measures" to be taken to preserve Egypt's treasures and secure the country's historical sites.
"Egyptian cultural heritage, both its monuments and its artefacts, are part of the ancestral heritage of humanity, handed down to us through the ages," she said on Tuesday.
"The value of the 120,000 pieces in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo is inestimable, not only in scientific or financial terms, but because they represent the Egyptian people’s cultural identity."
But the country's newly appointed minister of antiquities, well-known egyptologist Zahi Hawass, on Thursday played down accounts of the break-in at the Museum and warned against "rumours."
In a posting on his blog (www.drhawass.com/blog/state-egyptian-antiquities-3-february-2011), Hawass said the incident at the museum resulted in "70 broken objects, all of which can be restored."
"I want people to know that after nine days of protests, the monuments are safe," Hawass said. "If anything happens, I will announce it."
He explained that the fire brigade was deployed close by to intervene if need be. His blog featured pictures of heavily armed troops stationed in his office and behind the museum's high railings.
Hawass added that "nothing is damaged or stolen" at Saqqara, but confirmed that six boxes had been stolen at Qantara.
He did not say how many objects had gone missing, but said 288 objects had been returned, adding that he was sure the others would also be restored to the authorities.
An Egyptologists' website (http://www.eloquentpeasant.com/about/) showed pictures of some of the smashed cabinets and damaged statues at the Egyptian Museum.
"This is heartbreaking. These artefacts have survived for millennia only to be destroyed in a matter of minutes," said one contributor to its comment page.
Another major area of speculation was what exactly happened in last Friday's break-in.
French archaeologist Jean-Pierre Corteggiani, speaking on RTL radio, said it seemed to be an "operation aimed at discrediting the movement" to oust President Hosni Mubarak.
In Berlin, Friederike Seyfried, director of the Egyptology Museum which houses the celebrated bust of Nefertiti, said Egyptologists were desperate for solid news.
"I have tried several times to join my counterparts in Cairo, but it is understandable if they've got other things to do rather than take calls from Berlin," she said.
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