TEHRAN, April 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran is to launch legal actions to claim the return of an ancient Persian Empire bas-relief which was smuggled to Britain about 70 years ago, the English-language TehranTimes reported on Monday.

    The legal complaint against the owner of the bas-relief by Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (CHTO) demanding its return will be presented to a London court, Yunes Samadi, a CHTO official was quoted by the daily as saying on Sunday.

    The bas-relief, depicting the head of a soldier of the Achaemenid era (559-331 BC), was taken away from the eastern staircase of the Apadana Palace in Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the ancient Persian Empire, Samadi said.

    It was smuggled from Iran to Britain about 70 years ago and was sold in 1971 at one of the world's largest auction houses, Sotheby, Samadi added.

    The CHTO was informed on April 3 that the owner of the bas-relief intended to sell it and the organization immediately took actions to halt the sale of the antique, the official said.

    CHTO officials have prepared documents proving that the artifactbelongs to Iran and the documents and pictures will be presented tojudicial officials in London, said Samadi.

    Samadi also blamed the Pahlavi authority (overthrown by the Islamic Revolution in 1979) for lack of reaction in protest againstthe sale of the artifact in 1971, which he said has resulted in difficulties of the antique's return.

    However, Samadi also stressed that since Persepolis has been registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List and belongs to all humanity, all international cultural organizations are expected to facilitate the return of the artifact to its home. Enditem