'You don't rough up guests'
2005-07-21 09:55
Khartoum - United States officials and press accompanying United States secretary of state Condoleezza Rice on a trip to Sudan said they were "manhandled" by security staff at President Omar al-Beshir's residence on Thursday.
US officials said the security men tried to prevent them and the press from entering the meeting, and tried to confiscate tapes from a National Public Radio reporter, before Rice's spokesperson Sean McKormack and others intervened.
Jim Wilkinson, senior adviser to Rice, said he was grabbed and thrown against the wall at the entrance to the residence before he bulled his way through with Rice's personal assistant in tow behind him.
"Freedom of the press is wonderful thing and we don't appreciate being manhandled at the front door," said a fuming Wilkinson.
"Diplomacy 101 says you don't rough your guests up, especially the press."