US: Brazilian Prostitute not thrown from car

WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department is disputing a Pentagon account that three Marines and an employee of the U.S. Embassy in Brazil were disciplined after pushing a prostitute out of a car late last year in Brasilia.

Rather, the department said Wednesday the woman involved in the December incident tried to open a door and climb into the moving car. Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the woman fell and was injured. She said no charges were filed against the four Americans but all have left Brazil.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday the woman was pushed from the car and that two of the three Marines had been demoted. Nuland said the State Department has a zero-tolerance policy regarding prostitution but would not say whether the embassy employee violated rules or was disciplined.