LONDON -- Whenever animals are used in shows, speeches, or -- as in this case -- to mark the inauguration of a mosque, there's the potential for something to go badly wrong.
This is something Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discovered Friday, when he attempted to release a group of birds to mark the opening of a new mosque in Rize – and ended up having a head-on collision with a partridge.
Things got off to a shaky start when the birds proved reluctant to take part in the ceremony.
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The President tried to use an umbrella for encouragement, but didn't have much luck.
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Suddenly, disaster struck.
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The bird proceeded to scramble over Erdogan's head while photographers captured the moment.
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Oh dear.