German minister injured at Pentagon

An accident involving a security gate at the Pentagon in Washington has led to the German defence minister, Rudolf Scharping, being taken to hospital.

Mr Scharping suffered cuts to his forehead and foot when the security barrier suddenly lifted under his limousine, catapulting him into its roof.

The German defence attache and an American security agent in the car also received minor injuries.

Mr Scharping had been on his way to meet his American counterpart, William Cohen.

The incident is the latest of a series of similar mishaps involving the Pentagon's security gates over the past two years.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service