MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bush Daughter Is Robbed In Argentina

One of the twin daughters of President George W Bush has been robbed of her handbag in Argentina despite protection by US Secret Service agents.

Barbara Bush, 24, lost her mobile phone and credit cards in the robbery in a restaurant in the capital, Buenos Aires - but she was not hurt.

She was dining with her twin sister Jenna at the time.

ABC News in the US says the robbery went unnoticed by the heavy secret service force protecting the family.

US officials in Buenos Aires and Washington have declined to comment on the incident.

The report by the official Argentine Telam news agency was not clear on the identity of the 24-year old woman, who was identified as Jemma and as Barbara, but said that official sources had confirmed an attack on the daughter of the US president.

The BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Buenos Aires says it is highly embarrassing for the protection force.

The Bush daughters have been on holiday in the city for the past three weeks.