Melee in Chile seen as 'big deal'

"White House officials were still shaking their heads in disbelief yesterday that President Bush personally had to rescue a U.S. Secret Service agent from angry Chilean security officials Saturday night.

'This is a pretty big deal,' said a senior White House official, who called the incident a 'melee.'

'I mean, the guy who was supposed to be guarded had to rescue the guy who was supposed to be guarding him.'

The official expressed astonishment that Chilean security officials had stopped the No. 2 agent on Mr. Bush's security detail from accompanying the president into a meeting with another world leader, an unprecedented public breach of security arrangements agreed upon in advance."