Investigation into missing paintings

BEIJING - An investigation has been launched after claims that several famous works of art owned by Tian'anmen Gate, literally the Gate of Heavenly Peace, have either been lost or damaged, authorities said on Wednesday.

Questions over the management of the collection were first raised on Monday, when Beijing News reported that eight paintings had gone missing according to an anonymous source.

A publicity official for the Tian'anmen area administration, who refused to give his name, declined to confirm whether any artworks were missing, saying only that it is "too early to say" and that the case is under investigation.