Egypt aborts controversial pyramid renovation plan

FILE PHOTO: The sphinx (C) is pictured near the pyramids of Menkaure (R) and Khafre in Giza, during its reopening ceremony November 9, 2014. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt has scuttled a controversial plan to reinstall ancient granite cladding on the pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the three great pyramids of Giza, a committee formed by the country's tourism minister said in a statement.

Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, announced the plan last month, declaring it would be "the project of the century".