Izmir - Celebrations to mark the opening of a Turkish veterinary hospital on World Animal Day took an unfortunate twist when workers sacrificed a ram and calf to honour a visiting minister. State Minister Mr Yuksel Yalova intervened to stop a second ram having its throat cut at the entrance to the hospital in the western port city of Izmir, local newspapers said.
"On a day like this, especially at the opening of an animal hospital, scenes like that were really not appropriate," Mr Yalova said.