Polish soldiers arrive at spot where Nazi "gold train" may be buried

WARSAW/WALBRZYCH, Poland - Polish military personnel arrived on Friday at the spot where authorities suspect a Nazi-era train, possibly carrying guns and looted jewels, may be buried.

Soldiers wearing uniforms identifying them as members of a de-mining unit walked around the area, talked to local officials and took pictures, a Reuters photographer witnessed. There was no sign they had started digging.

Authorities Poland's Lower Silesia region said they would hold a news conference at about 1 p.m. (1100 GMT) on the search for the train which, according to local folklore, entered a tunnel in 1945 and never emerged.

Last week, a deputy culture minister said he was almost certain the so-called "gold train" had been located, but his ministry backtracked, saying it had no knowledge on the issue.

Two amateur treasure hunters, a German and a Pole, said in August they had found the train, and said it should be exhumed and displayed as a tourist attraction.

The World Jewish Congress said that any valuables that had been stolen from Jews murdered by the Nazis must be returned to their rightful owners.