WASHINGTON (AP) - National Park Service officials say engineers have completed an inspection of earthquake damage at the pyramid-like top of the Washington Monument.

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At a briefing Friday, officials said engineers also inspected six levels of stone below the top. The team is rappelling down the monument, removing loosened pieces of stone and mortar from numerous cracks.
Park Service spokesman Bill Line says the work will continue through the weekend and is expected to be completed Tuesday.

Line says their main priority is to remove any loosened debris from the monument so that it doesn't fall and injure someone. He stressed that engineers say the monument is still structurally sound and not at risk of falling over.

Engineers returned to the building Friday morning and resumed rappelling operations.