SINGAPORE - Singapore complained on Wednesday about an unruly press pack covering this week's ASEAN ministerial meetings, and urged the media to "exercise restraint."

"There have been several complaints by accredited delegations and hotel guests on the behaviour of some journalists at the conference venue," an official statement said.

"Some delegations have been swarmed by the media while entering or exiting the lobby of the Shangri-La Hotel, resulting in them being pushed and jostled.

"In one instance, a senior member of a visiting delegation was accidentally hit with a video camera by a photojournalist, while in another, a child was almost trampled on by a group of media personnel chasing some delegates into a lift.

"While Singapore understands that the incidents did not involve all members of the media, "we nevertheless cannot condone behaviour that places the safety of delegates, hotel guests, the media and hotel assets in jeopardy."

"We therefore strongly urge the media to exercise restraint, comply with the requests of conference officials and above all, respect the need for public safety."

The advisory was issued a day after a press pack cornered US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who had held bilateral talks with his South Korean counterpart ahead of North Korea disarmament talks.

Security staff jostled with photographers and cameramen who blocked an entrance in an attempt to get to the interview.

Some journalists have complained that authorities have tried to prevent them interviewing delegates as they enter or leave meetings in the hotel, as has been the usual practice at previous ASEAN forums. - AFP/vm