ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - The second of three giant parts of Ethiopia's 1,700-year-old Axum obelisk looted by Benito Mussolini's troops was welcomed home Friday.

The first part of the funerary monument taken by the Italians arrived in Axum, 530 miles north of the capital, Addis Ababa, on Tuesday, 68 years after Mussolini ordered troops to take the treasure to mark the 15-year anniversary of his march on Rome. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and other senior officials are expected to fly to Axum on Monday to head celebrations when the final piece returns to the small wind-swept town that was once the center of an ancient and powerful kingdom.

Small celebrations greeted the arrival of the Antonov cargo jet that flew in early Friday carrying the 58-ton top section of the intricately carved granite monument.

The return of the 80-foot monument ends a dispute that raged since 1947, when Italy signed a pledge to the United Nations to return all the property plundered from Ethiopia while its troops occupied the country from 1936 to 1941.

The granite obelisk symbolizes the powerful Axumite Kingdom, which was established between 200 and 100 B.C. Massive obelisks are among a few tangible remains of the past glory of Axum, an area lying in the shadow of the Adwa Mountains where Emperor Menelik II defeated the Italians in 1896 - the greatest modern victory of an African army over a European force.

Ethiopians hope the return of the obelisk, which is carved on all sides, will highlight the rich heritage in the only African nation that European powers failed to colonize.