Thein Sein 1st of Myanmar's leaders to visit last exiled king's grave

MUMBAI (AFP) - President Thein Sein on Saturday became the first of Myanmar's leaders to visit the tomb of his country's last king, who was exiled to India more than a century ago.

The president paid homage at the run-down tomb of King Thibaw in the western Indian coastal city of Ratnagiri and met the late monarch's descendants.

"The meeting was marked by emotion," a local official told the Press Trust of India news agency, adding the president also invited the king's descendants to visit Myanmar during the two-hour visit.

The Myanmar leader travelled by helicopter to Ratnagiri from Mumbai, which lies some 330km away.