Fuhrer's paintings found in Tehran

TWO PAINTINGS held by a state museum in Tehran have been authenticated by Western experts as the work of Adolf Hitler. The paintings are said to have been presented to the Iranian ambassador in Germany by the Fuhrer himself.

The museum's curator, Mohammad Reza Javaheri, said the works - painted in 1911 or 1912 and showing views of Vienna - were owned by the government foundation Bonyad Mostazafan, which runs the museum. Hitler applied to study art at the Vienna academy when he was 18, but was not accepted.

"Both paintings have been authenticated by two European experts," the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Mr Javaheri as saying."The foundation does not intend to sell the paintings. They will remain in its collection."

Iran was sympathetic towards Germany during Hitler's rule and Mr Javaheri said the paintings - both water colours measuring 60 cms by 50 cms (24 by 20 inches) - had been a gift to the Iranian ambassador.

The paintings came into the possession of the Bonyad Mostazafan after the 1979 Islamic revolution, when the government seized billions of dollars in assets owned by the ousted Shah and his supporters and gave them to the newly created foundation.