It's our treasure give it back

Published on Thursday 8 May 2008 22:31

Strange world

SPAIN is demanding a that a United States deep-sea exploration firm turns over the entire 255 million treasure it salvaged from a shipwreck, saying it has determined the vessel is definitely Spanish.

James Goold, a Washington-based lawyer who represents the Spanish government, said the 19th-century shipwreck at the heart of a dispute with Odyssey Marine Exploration is without a doubt the Nuestra Seora de las Mercedes – a Spanish frigate sunk by a British warship south-west of Portugal in 1804. He said the Spanish government has presented evidence to back up its claim to a US federal judge hearing the case in Tampa, Florida, where Odyssey is based.

Spain also argues the entire treasure should be returned, as it was never really abandoned.

Odyssey announced in May last year that it had discovered the wreck in the Atlantic and raised 500,000 silver coins and other artefacts. The booty was flown back to Tampa.

Spain went to the US federal court to claim ownership of the treasure if it turned out to be connected to the country's national heritage.

Mr Goold said at a news conference yesterday that Spain's evidence proved the ship and cargo were definitely Spanish property.