Stolen Van Gogh paintings found in Italy

Rome: Italian police have recovered two famous Vincent Van Gogh paintings stolen from an Amsterdam museum in 2002, officials said on Friday.

The Van Gogh museum in the city said the works were recovered during a "massive, continuing investigation" by Italian prosecutors and organised crime officials, the BBC reported.

The paintings were taken when thieves used a ladder to break into the museum.

Italian police said the works were recovered from the Naples mafia.

They were among assets worth millions of euros seized from the Camorra group, reports said.

The museum said it was so far unclear when the works would be returned to Amsterdam but in a statement it said the pieces appeared to be in "relatively good condition".