From correspondents in Santiago, Chile November 21, 2004
US President George W. Bush stepped into the middle of a confrontation and pulled his lead Secret Service agent away from Chilean security officials who barred his bodyguards from entering an elegant dinner for 21 world leaders. Several Chilean and American agents got into a pushing and shoving match outside the cultural centre where the dinner was being held in Santiago. Mr Bush noticed the fracas after posing for pictures on a red carpet with Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit host, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos. Abandoning the president and his wife, Laura, Mr Bush walked over to the agents, reached through the dispute and pulled his agent from the scrum. The president, looking irritated, then walked away with the agent. The incident was shown on APEC television.

"Chilean security tried to stop the president's Secret Service from accompanying him," said White House deputy press secretary Claire Buchan. "He told them they were with him and the issue was resolved."

Posted by Ryan S. on Saturday, November 20, 2004 at 9:17 PM | Permalink |