India finds bed for Clinton

The Raj Vilas in Jaipur: Luxury rooms booked by French tourists

A row over hotel arrangements for President Clinton's forthcoming visit to India has been resolved after the intervention of the Foreign Ministry in Delhi.

White House officials wanted to take over an entire luxury hotel in Jaipur - the Raj Villas - for the president and his aides, but were told that most of the rooms had been booked months ago by a group of French tourists and could not be cancelled.

The management relented after the ministry told them this was essential in the national interest.

As compensation, the tourists are being offered three days of luxury accomodation free of charge at similar hotels owned by the chain.

President Clinton: Wants the whole hotel

The French tourists had initially refused to change their schedule.

Mr Clinton's advance team, comprising White House officials and secret service agents, visited Jaipur last week before getting in touch with the hotel's managers.

But the hotel management refused to intervene, saying only that there would be no problem if the two parties could sort it out amongst themselves.

Luxurious retreat

The luxury hotel, one of India's most opulent, has more than 50 deluxe rooms and three luxury royal suites.

The Palace of the Winds: One of Jaipur's main draws

The $1000 a night suites have their own private swimming pools and gardens.

The bathrooms are vast, open to the sky and look out on tropical gardens, with an occasional peacock strutting by.

The hotel also has a nine-hole golf course and its own helipad.

President Clinton is due to visit several tourist spots in Rajasthan, including the Amer Palace and the Ranthambore National Park, as the possibility of sighting tigers is much higher there than in most of the national parks, sources say.

The president is also expected to visit a traditional village in Rajasthan.