Jewelry Disappears From Hermitage

The Hermitage, Russia's most famous museum (epa) July 31, 2006 -- More than 200 items of jewelry worth $5 million have disappeared from Russia's Hermitage museum in the city of St. Petersburg.

A museum spokesman said the loss of the items was noticed during a routine inspection.

It is not the first time that exhibits from the museum have vanished. In 2001, thieves stole a French painting insured for $1 million.

At the start of the inspection an employee assigned to the jewelry collection suddenly died.

(AP)