Reporters fight

Reporters fight

Pentagon reporters traveling with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates got into a fight with a group of Turkish video photographers that involved punches, kicks and a lot of shouting.

The incident occurred at the Ministry of Defense in Ankara as the group of traveling U.S. reporters had been placed in an area partially in front of Turkish television reporters who were waiting for Mr. Gates to finish a meeting and then speak to reporters.

The Turks then barged into the area where the U.S. reporters were standing and hit several with their cameras. The collision triggered the fracas.

"A few kicks and punches were thrown," said one reporter who was there. "Then the Turkish military intervened."

Several reporters involved declined to comment. No one was injured but the incident left Pentagon press spokesman Geoff Morrell with a better appreciation of the Pentagon press corps.

Mr. Morrell said the noise could be heard in the meeting. By the time he arrived, "the pushing and shoving had stopped, but our reporters were still shocked by how their Turkish colleagues had manhandled them in an attempt to get a better position for the Q&A."

"I am happy to see that Turkey enjoys a free, vibrant and competitive press, but their cameramen make the Pentagon press corps look like disciples of Miss Manners," he said.