WASHINGTON - IRRITATED by an omnipresent fly during a TV interview at the Executive Mansion on Tuesday, President Barack Obama took matters into his own hands.

Said Obama to the persistent fly: 'Get out of here.' But it didn't.

So Obama waited for the fly to settle, put his hand up and then smacked the fly dead in one try.

Without missing a beat, the president said to CNBC correspondent John Harwood: 'Now, where were we?' Well, maybe one more second to gloat.

Said Obama: 'That was pretty impressive, wasn't it? I got the sucker.'

The camera crew was still rolling in the East Room but Obama didn't mind.

He pointed to the vanquished insect on the ground and said, 'You want to film that?'; CNBC did. That fly is history. -- AP