ADDIS ABABA, March 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Ethiopia's Addis Ababa Mayor Arkebe Equbay said Wednesday the 109th Adwa victory celebration was unique when it falls on the eve of the return of the ancient Axum obelisk which was looted by Italian Fascists.

    Arkebe on the occasion said the Axum obelisk which is to be returned to its rightful owners -- the Ethiopian people -- was a source of great pride to the nation.

    Italy has agreed to return to Ethiopia the first piece of the ancient Axum obelisk. The obelisk has been cut into three pieces and the first piece will be returned by the end of March. The remaining pieces will be returned by the end of April.

    Italy's Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in 1937 ordered the seizure of the 1,700 year-old obelisk from the city of Axum, 850 km north of the capital Addis Ababa. The monument was erected in Rome as a booty from Italy's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935.

    The battle of Adwa, in which Ethiopian forces under Emperor Menelik II united to defeat an invading force of Italian troops, was one of the most significant turning points in the history of modern Africa. It occurred, in 1896, when the "colonial era" was well advanced on the African continent, and it served notice that Africa was not just there "for the taking" by European powers. More than this, it marked the entry of Ethiopia into the modern community of nations: Menelik's victory over the Italians caused the other major European states, and Italy itself, to recognize Ethiopia as a sovereign, independent state.

    The actual battle took place on March 1 and 2, 1896, at Adwa, the principal market town of the northern part of Ethiopia.

    The national celebration of the Adwa victory day was celebrated at the Menelik Square in Addis Ababa.

    Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives Dawit Yohannis laid a wreath at the Menelik II monument in the presence of representatives of governmental and civic organizations and numerous Addis Ababa residents.

    Cannons were fired and the brass band played tunes in additionto a song by students of the prestigious Arbegnoch School. Enditem