3 Jul 2012

German artist accused of stealing sacred stone

6:06 am on 3 July 2012

A German artist has found himself in a dispute with a Venezuelan tribe.

Sculptures by Wolfgang von Schwarzenfeld, 79, in a Berlin park were meant to promote world peace, but he has been accused by the tribe of stealing a sacred pink stone known to them as "Grandmother."

The Venezuelan government is championing the Pemon Indians of the Gran Sabana region by demanding the return of the polished stone from the Tiergarten park - putting the German government in something of a dilemma.