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)
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