Seventy graves in an unofficial extension of a Muslim cemetery, located in Mit Rehna archaeological site, were removed by a committee. The committee was composed of members of the armed forces, the security director of 6 October Governorate, the Ministry of Antiquities, and the tourism and antiquities police. Zahi Hawass, Egypt's Minister of Antiquities, said in a statement released by the Ministry at noon today that the 70 graves were built by citizens living near the archaeological site. They were removed by the commission during the Egyptian uprising in January. He said the graves were removed quietly and that those who removed them were secured by the armed forces and the Tourism and Antiquities Police. The Ministry of Antiquities, cooperating with the Military Council and the Ministry of Interior, was carrying out a campaign to remove illegal buildings in several archaeological sites across Egypt, said Hawass.