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Friday, 26th June 2009 (1221 views)

The US state department has published a list of the gifts, including a number of gold items, that were presented to the country's president by foreign dignitaries over the last year.

A tourism official from Saudi Arabia gave the head of state a dagger made from gold, along with a belt and case, as part of a package estimated to be worth $4,589 (£2,944), the Associated Press reports.

Meanwhile, Saudi King Abdullah offered the King Abdul-Aziz Order of Merit gold necklace and a model of a Saudi palace featuring the precious metal, which helped to make up a collection of presents valued at $32,000.

The necklace was given to Barack Obama at the start of this month and it alone is thought to be worth $25,000, according to Cash4Gold.

All of the gifts were handed over to the government, as in general presidents are not allowed to keep expensive items given to them by foreign powers.

 

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