Turkey PM visits relocated historic tomb in Syria

ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu slipped across the border into Syria on Sunday to visit a historic tomb that was relocated earlier this year away from territory controlled by radicals.
Davutoglu, accompanied by his defense minister and army commanders, made the surprise visit to the tomb of Suleyman Shah, grandfather of the Ottoman empire’s founder Osman I, his office announced.
The mausoleum now lies just 200 meters from the Turkish border inside Syrian territory, after Turkish soldiers in February staged an unprecedented incursion deep inside Syria to move the tomb from its previous location.
The government ordered the tomb — considered sovereign Turkish territory — to be moved due to security concerns as it was in an area controlled by Islamic State, about 37 km inside Syrian territory.
Images from Davutoglu’s visit show him paying his respects at the tomb, which now lies in the settlement of Eshme and is easily visible from Turkish territory, and embracing Turkish soldiers who are permanently stationed there.
“Mr Prime Minister has long had an intention to visit the tomb on the ground since it was relocated,” a government official told AFP.
“It was put into practice when there was such an opportunity.”