Man in custody for climbing over White House fence

WASHINGTON - A man who climbed over a fence onto the White House grounds was taken into custody by the Secret Service, a spokesman for the president's protection service said on Wednesday.

"At about noon today, an unidentified male jumped the fence on the north side of the White House grounds," the spokesman said.

"He was apprehended by Secret Service and taken into custody and Secret Service is currently investigating the incident," he said. No other information about the fence jumper was immediately available.

President George W. Bush was meeting with South African President Thabo Mbeki in the Oval office at the time of the incident.

- REUTERS