Washington, December 11, 2015 (AFP) – Tensions between Washington and Moscow on conflicts in Syria and Iraq have led Thursday to a brutal skirmish at the very civilized press briefing at the State Department between his spokesman and television journalist Russia Today.

The spokesman John Kirby took aim at the Washington correspondent of the Russian public channel, Gayane Chichakyan, accusing ask questions “completely ridiculous” when she questioned him insistently on the American position face military deployment in Turkey in Iraq.

American diplomacy takes a long daily briefing, broadcast live on television and on the internet that offers a comprehensive overview of the global crises on which Washington has a say: dozens of accredited journalists – American, European , Asian or Arab – dialogue with the spokesman in a mostly cordial atmosphere.

After waiting his turn, journalist of Russia Today regularly presents at the press briefing, came back several times to the load whether Washington “approved” or not the Turkish military presence in northern Iraq without permission Baghdad, causing tensions between Iraq and Turkey.

The State Department said this week that the two US allies should settle the dispute directly and refused to take a stand for one or the other.

“It’s so crazy,” suddenly carried Mr. Kirby. “I do not mind you asking these questions? You should look at these issues and almost laugh at yourself, right? This is absolutely crazy! “Thundered the spokesman, very angry.

While Gayane Chichakyan insisted that the United States appeared indifferent to the deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq – which result according Ankara Iraqis against the Islamic state – John Kirby really raised his voice.

“I note that (your) team rarely asks questions difficult to (your) own government,” he said, referring to Russia Today partly funded by the Kremlin and defends media voices “alternative” on international issues.

“Here at the State Department, you can come and ask what you want. And you can be too adversarial in your questions, some of them now completely ridiculous, “stormed Mr Kirby.

“What question was ridiculous, sir? (…) To which one should I feel embarrassed? “Retorted calmly journalist before the spokespersons end its briefing.