Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ended his visit to the United States early after reportedly being refused a role in the funeral of American boxer Muhammad Ali on Friday.
According to RT, Erdogan attended a Muslim prayer service for Ali on Thursday but left the US before the final funeral ceremony in Louisville, KY on Friday.
A CNN Turk report said that Erdogan was not allowed to lay a piece of cloth from the Kaaba on Ali's coffin during the funeral.
Turkish media also reported that Erdogan and Turkey's top cleric, who was to read from the Quran, were removed from the list of speakers at the multi-faith service.
Erdogan did not release a statement on the matter, but his office denied that his early exit was due to the funeral snub and said he simply "completed his religious service" and decided to return to Turkey.
