Officials and guests attend the opening of the new [Getty Images]

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT: Officials and guests attend the opening of the new Alexandria Library in Egypt's Mediterranean port city, 16 October 2002. The library, a rebirth of the famed ancient 'Bibliotheca Alexandrina' which burned to the ground 1,600 years ago, will be officially inaugurated later today, in the presence of several international public figures, including French President Jacques Chirac, Queen Sofia of Spain and Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos. des officiels et invitTs assistent a l'inauguration de la bibliothFque d'Alexandrie, le 16 octobre 2002. La bibliothFque a TtT TrigTe sur la corniche d'Alexandrie, prFs du site o+ se trouvait le bGtiment antique (Photo credit should read PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP PATRICK KOVARIK