Have a nice trip, Hillary! Clinton takes a tumble as she boards plane

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tripped up during a visit in the Middle East Tuesday - literally.

After a day spent working on U.S.-Yemeni diplomatic relations, Clinton "took a bit of a tumble," in the words of Fox News anchor Shepard Smith, while boarding the plane home.

The country's top diplomat did not suffer any injuries, except perhaps a bruised ego.

Clinton was in Sanaa, the country's capital, for an unannounced visit focused on shoring up ties with the small state on the Arabian Peninsula - one which is quickly becoming an important front in the battle against extremism.

Radical American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, thought to have inspired the 2009 shooting in Fort Hood, Texas, is rumored to be hiding in Yemen. Further, the terror group Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has a stronghold in Yemen.

After her meeting with Yemeni president Ali Abdallah Saleh, Clinton told reporters that economic development and security are high priorities for both countries.

"We face a common threat posed by the terrorists and Al Qaeda, but our partnership goes beyond counterterrorism," she said. "We're focused not just on short-term threats but long-term challenges."

With News Wire Services