Cairo  - Nine paintings stolen ten days ago from an Egyptian museum, were found near the scene of the crime, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture said on Thursday.

"Security authorities informed me that they found the paintings near the palace after the police received an anonymous phone call telling them where the paintings were," Egypt's Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni said.

The paintings were stolen from Mohammed Ali Pasha's palace, a historical building that houses major art works.

The identity of the thieves remains unknown.

Hosni said he was "very happy" for the recovery of the paintings, adding that they will be moved to art museums as they are "part of the country's history."

The ministry will order copies of the paintings to be placed in the palace to "maintain the style of the museum."

The paintings depicted the life of Mohamed Ali, who ruled Egypt from 1805 to 1848, and his family. They were transferred from the Supreme Council of Antiquities to the palace, also known as the Egyptian Versailles, after it was restored and opened to visitors in late 2005.

The palace, which lies on the Nile banks in northern Cairo, has been subjected to comprehensive restoration over the past five years. (dpa)