One of the most famous museums in the world, the Louvre, is adding an Arts of Islam Gallery. When the gallery is completed this will be the largest addition to the museum since the construction of the glass pyramid in the 1980s.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, participated in the laying of the foundations of the Arts of Islam Gallery extension to the Louvre. While laying the foundation stone with the Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Sarkozy praised Islam.

At the ceremony Sarkozy said "This will be the chance for all French and foreign visitors to the Louvre to see that Islam is progress, science, refinement, modernity, and that fanaticism in the name of Islam is to flout Islam. France does not desire a clash between Western and Eastern civilizations. A clash of civilizations would be a disaster for the world."

The Arts of Islam Gallery will open in 2010. More than 7 million people visit the Louvre every year (World Bulletin)