TURKS HANDED OVER KEYS TO BELGRADE

BIJELJINA, APRIL 17 /SRNA/ – On April 18, 1867, the Turks handed over the keys to Belgrade to the Serbian Prince Mihailo Obrenović, marking the final act in the long process of Serbia's political liberation from Ottoman rule.

In the presence of Serbian and Turkish envoys, an imperial firman was read in both Serbian and Turkish; the Serbian flag was raised on the ramparts, and a 21-gun salute was fired.

The last Turkish commander, Riza Pasha, handed over the keys to Prince Mihailo, who then triumphantly rode into the Kalemegdan Fortress.

During the ceremony, Captain Svetozar Garašanin replaced the Turkish guards at the fortress with Serbian soldiers.