Iraq's local government is to reopen the Babylon archeological site, which had been closed since the 2003 US-led invasion of the country.

The city, located 85 kilometers south of Baghdad, was transformed into a military camp by American and Polish troops and a heliport was built on its ruins.

The reopening will take place despite archaeologists expressing their concerns about further damages to what remains of one of the world's first great cities which is pending registration on UNESCO's list of protected World Heritage sites.

Iraq's State Board of Antiquities and Heritage now says Babil's provincial government has illegal control over the ancient city, using it for tourism interests regardless of its critical condition.

“Our problem, in terms of archaeology, is that we actually deal with ignorant people, whether in the Saddam era or the current era,” said Qais Hussein Rashid, acting director of the board of antiquities of the Iraqi Ministry of Culture.

“Most of the people and some officials have no respect for heritage,” he added. “They think archaeological sites are just a bunch of bricks that have no value at all.”

According to The New York Times, the Babylon dispute is not the first time that Rashid's board and the newly created State Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities have had a difference in opinion.

The new ministry has close relations with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is eager to show the country's stability and progress by reopening historic and cultural sites.

“Our goal is that these sites will be tourist attractions - to convey the real, civilized image of Iraq and to bring as many tourists as possible,” said Iraq's tourism ministry director, Qahtan al-Jibouri.

“Iraq needs another source of funding in addition to oil.”

No precautions have been taken against damages that may be inflicted on the site by tourists after Babylon is officially opened on June 1, 2009.

NAT/TE/HGH