President Barack Obama has upheld a 46-year-old Thanksgiving tradition by pardoning a turkey on the White House lawn.
United States presidents have the power to pardon wrongly convicted prisoners and their authority extends to saving turkeys set for the slaughter.
Accompanied by his daughters Sasha and Malia, President Obama showed mercy to a 45-pound turkey called Courage.
The president said Courage will spend the rest of his life in "peace and tranquility" at Disneyland.
Front page