Turkish MPs decline seasonal gift

A seasonal gift to Turkish members of parliament of a bottle of whisky has met with less than universal approval.

The Sabah newspaper said several Islamist MPs returned their present, while others poured it down the parliamentary toilets.

Islam forbids the drinking of alcohol.

The Privatisation Ministry had presented each member of parliament with a bottle as a New Year gift.

The whisky is made by the state monopoly, Tekel, which is due to be privatised.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service