Supermarket Tussle Turns Into Diplomatic Incident in Peru

A brief dust-up at a Peruvian supermarket has become an international incident. Ecuador's ambassador to the country squabbled with women in line, resulting in an exchange of blows. It all began when the women skipped in front of Rodrigo Riofrio in line, say a mother and daughter, per Peruvian news. They also say the diplomat used racist slurs in the April 21 incident. Security footage shows a woman hitting Riofrio before he hits back with a magazine, according to Reuters. Bloomberg and the Atlantic Wire say tapes show Riofrio punching and kicking the women.

Now, officials in Peru and Ecuador are feuding over the fight. Ecuador President Rafael Correa says Riofrio was a "victim of aggression," but Peru called on Ecuador to remove Riofrio last week. Today, Ecuador did so "following a request by ambassador Riofrio," says the country's foreign office. Correa has threatened to prevent Peru's ambassador from re-entering the country over the flap, reports the Wall Street Journal. (More Ecuador stories.)