Sex scandal hits Obama's secret agents

An embarrassing scandal involving prostitutes and US Secret Service agents deepened as 11 agents were placed on leave and the agency designed to protect President Barack Obama was forced to apologise.

The controversy has also extended to the US military, which said five service members staying at the same hotel as the agents in Colombia may have been involved in misconduct.

They were confined to their quarters in Colombia and ordered not to have contact with others. One official who was briefed on the investigation, said the Secret Service agents involved had brought the women back to their hotel rooms.

AP