UPDATE - 10:48 A.M.

The fire alarm actually made the transcript. Here's the relevant portion.

Q Back on oil. Have there been any follow-up discussions with the Saudis since the President's visit to the Middle East about opening up supplies more? As you know, OPEC is meeting next week.

MR. JOHNDROE: I would say we have pretty regular contact. I think that Secretary Bodman was out in the region right after President Bush was in the region. We have regular contact with all the -- with many of these countries. So we'll see. There certainly is a --

(Fire alarm goes off.)

Q What is that?

MR. JOHNDROE: I know, right. Well, I guess we're over. I guess we're done now.

Q Fire drill?

MR. JOHNDROE: Yes, right, exactly. There's a button up here on the new podium. See if one of these guys has something to say.

Q It's an easy way to get out of a briefing.

MR. JOHNDROE: Yes, right.

Q Week ahead? (Laughter.)

MR. JOHNDROE: Yes, no kidding. Do you want me to just release it?

Q Yes.

MR. JOHNDROE: All right, thank you all.

END

-----

White House deputy press secretary Gordon Johndroe this morning was halfway through the first press gaggle of his career when the fire alarm went off here in the Brady briefing room.

For the record, I've never heard a more piercing, painful fire alarm in my life.

It was a false alarm, and we waited outside for about five minutes until it was turned off. Then, two minutes later, it went off again for another five minutes.

— Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times