Obama Agents Recalled Over Misconduct Claims

A number of Secret Service agents tasked with protecting President Barack Obama in Colombia have been relieved of duty after allegations of misconduct.

Details of the claims have not been confirmed, but there are reports that the accusations relate to prostitutes in Cartagena, the site of the Summit of the Americas.

A Secret Service spokesman would only confirm that there had been "allegations of misconduct". The White House did not comment.

The claims emerged as President Obama arrived in the country for talks between leaders of North and South America.

The drugs trade and economic policy are among the big issues on the agenda, but the thorny issue of Falklands sovereignty has already cropped up.

Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, called on the US to make a stand and back Argentina's claim to the islands, saying: "We hope that the United States will adhere to the request of all the states and people of America and reaffirm that the Falklands are Argentine...

"It is the great conscience of the social movements of America."

Britain has repeatedly stated that the people of the Falklands should be the ones to determine their future and has rejected previous claims by Argentina that the UK is "militarising" the area.

:: Colombian police said small explosions had taken place in Cartagena and in the capital Bogota, near the US embassy, in attacks apparently timed to coincide with Mr Obama's arrival. No one was hurt.