A video has emerged showing Turkish workers taking down signs around Hagia Sophia.

The decision to convert Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque has swung a number of works into action. Municipal officials took down all signs of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism that identified the monument as a museum.

Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan has promised to keep the site open to both Muslims and non-Muslims in a televised address, where he also said admission would now be free.

In a telephone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Erdogan said items of Christian importance would be preserved.

Islam forbids icons to be depicted within mosques, however Turkish authorities said they would not be plastering over the priceless mosaics as had been the case in the previous conversion. This time they will be covered with curtains and lights.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Hagia Sophia had been operating as a museum since 1934.