An Indonesian art collective�s banner that was widely criticized as containing antisemitic elements was covered up at a major art show in Germany and was to be taken down on Tuesday, officials said.

The large installation by Taring Padi, titled �People�s Justice,� drew objections after it was put up in a central square in the city of Kassel as part of the documenta contemporary art show.

Criticism centered on the depiction on the banner of a soldier with the face of a pig, wearing a neckerchief with a Star of David and a helmet inscribed with the word �Mossad,� the name of Israel�s intelligence agency.

On Monday, the Israeli Embassy in Berlin said it was �appalled by the antisemitic elements� that were being shown in Kassel and called for their immediate removal from the exhibition. It said that �they have absolutely nothing to do with free expression of opinion, but are an expression of an old-style antisemitism.�

Organizers said Monday � three days after it went up � that the work would be covered up, in what they said was a joint decision with the art collective. On Tuesday, Kassel Mayor Christian Geselle said that it would be taken down altogether during the day.

Germany�s culture minister, Claudia Roth, said in a statement that its removal was �overdue� and �is only a first step.�

�More must follow,� she added. �It must be cleared up how it was possible for this mural with antisemitic figurative elements to be installed there.�

This year�s documenta, which already had faced antisemitism allegations, opened on Saturday.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page after the decision to cover the banner, Taring Padi insisted that the work � which it said was first exhibited at the South Australia Art Festival in Adelaide 20 years ago � �is in no way related� to antisemitism. It said �all of the figures depicted on the banner refer to symbolism that is widespread in Indonesia�s political context.�

�We are sorry that details of this banner are misunderstood other than their original purpose. We apologize for the injuries caused in this context,� it said.

(AP)