Secret Service agents sacked over prostitutes

The US Secret Service is moving quickly to quell a prostitution scandal, sacking three agents less than a week after the embarrassing incident came to light.

The scandal erupted last week after 11 agents were sent home from Cartagena, on Colombia's Caribbean coast, after a night of partying that reportedly ended with at least some of them bringing prostitutes back to their hotel. The Secret Service did not identify the agents it dismissed or eight more it said were on administrative leave.

Meanwhile, a woman at the centre of the scandal said she asked to be paid $800 (£500) to spend the night with one of the agents. The woman told The New York Times that the agent reneged on their deal, instead offering $30. That sparked a row that led to police being called.