Stolen artwork handed over to Russia communist chief

MOSCOW, Dec 21 (Reuters) Thieves who stole a 19th century French painting from Russia's Hermitage museum yesterday handed it over to a communist leader because they trusted him to return it to authorities, a party colleague said.

Mr Gennady Zyuganov, who heads Russia's Communist Party, received a package with the canvas, sliced out of its frame, his Yuri Petrakov told Reuters.

''Around 12 o'clock today we received an anonymous call from a man asking for somebody to come out on Zyuganov's behalf because he believed Zyuganov wouldn't sell the object and would pass it on where necessary,'' Yuri Petrakov said.

The painting turned out to be a work by Mr Jean-Leon Jerome entitled ''Pool in a Harem'', he said. He added that an expert had confirmed its authenticity, after which it was passed on to the relevant authorities.

The painting, shown on the Hermitage Web site, depicts a Turkish public bath and dates back to 1876.

The Hermitage is still reeling from the disappearance of some 221 silver items that emerged in August and caused a public outcry, with some commentators blaming a decline in moral standards since the end of Communist rule.

Reuters PKS RN0436