US, Turkish officials get physical in Qatar

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:06:21 GMT

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A fight broke out between high-ranking US and Turkish officials at a meeting held between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Qatar.

The fight was reported between the US ambassador to Qatar and an advisor to the Turkish prime minister at the end of a 20-minute meeting between Clinton and Erdogan on Monday.

The altercation took place after the US envoy entered the room to remind those present to close the meeting as the time was over.

In response, Erdogan’s adviser said, “It is not for you to judge the importance of our meeting, you offend our country,” the Turkish daily Today’s Zaman reported.

The quarrel led to physical confrontation and the two diplomats were separated with difficulty.

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