<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3020" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<H1><FONT size=4>This is just so wierd</FONT></H1>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ben</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<H1><FONT size=4></FONT> </H1>
<H1><FONT size=4></FONT> </H1>
<H1><FONT size=4>Man Fired Over Camel Sacrifice in Turkey</FONT></H1>
<H2><FONT size=3></FONT></H2><!-- END HEADLINE/DECK & SUBHEADLINE/SUBDECK -->
<P class=author><FONT size=1><!-- START WRITER CREDIT--></FONT></P>
<P class=date><FONT size=1>Wednesday, December 13,
2006<!-- END WRITER CREDIT--></FONT></P><!-- end #contentheader --><!-- <hr> now part of stylesheet <hr noshade size="1" color="#CCC" />--><!-- START STORY -->
<DIV class=clear> </DIV>
<DIV id=contentbody><!-- START OBJECT THUMBS AREA-->
<TABLE id=relatedcontent cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width=160 align=right
border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV id=utilitymenu><FONT size=2></FONT></DIV></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV
id=additionalcontent></DIV><!-- end #additionalcontent --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SPAN
class=althead><FONT size=2><STRONG>
<P>
<H3></H3>
<P></P></STRONG></FONT></SPAN><FONT size=2>
<P>(12-13) 09:37 PST ANKARA, Turkey (AP) --
<P>
<P>A crew of mechanics at Istanbul's airport were so glad to be rid of some
trouble-prone British-made airplanes that they sacrificed a camel on the tarmac
in celebration — prompting the firing Wednesday of their supervisor.</P>
<P>
<P>The photo of a worker raising a large piece of bloodied camel meat on the
tarmac of Ataturk International Airport was published on the front page of at
least two newspapers, drawing the wrath of transportation authorities.</P>
<P>
<P>Tuesday's sacrifice of a camel with small Turkish carpets over its humps at
the busy airport was regarded as a disgrace and an embarrassment for the country
at a time when it is seeking to join the European Union.</P>
<P>
<P>"This is a grave incident. Is it compatible with the image of a modern
Turkey, trying to enter the EU?" said opposition lawmaker Huseyin Guler.</P>
<P>
<P>Under pressure from the EU, Turkey has introduced fines for those who
slaughter animals outside special facilities.</P>
<P>
<P>Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim condemned the camel sacrifice, saying
"it is not possible to approve such an incident."</P>
<P>
<P>"It was met with adequate response," he added.</P>
<P>
<P>Turkish Airlines authorities launched an investigation and later fired chief
mechanic Sukru Can for approving the camel sacrifice. The crew of mechanics had
been celebrating the return of the last of 11 four-engine Avro RJ 100 jets that
were leased from Britain 13 years ago.</P>
<P>
<P>Turks traditionally sacrifice animals as an offering to God for when their
wishes come true.</P>
<P>
<P>"We are happy to be rid of planes which frequently broke down without causing
major headaches to Turkish Airlines," the daily Cumhuriyet quoted Can as saying
after the ceremony.</P></FONT><!-- END STORY -->
<P class=pagenumber></P></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>