| India is preparing for Barack Obama's first visit
to the country by removing coconuts from palm trees in Mumbai to
protect the US president. Mr Obama will arrive in India on
Saturday for the first leg of an Asian tour.
But as well as the usual security measures that come with welcoming
a a visiting dignitary, Indian authorities have decided to go one
step further, by removing all natural threats to the president as
well.
All coconuts around the city's Gandhi museum, one of Mr Obama's
stops in the city, are being taken down.
Mani Bhavan, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his freedom struggle
against the British, is among five places the US president is
visiting in Mumbai.
"We told the authorities to remove the dry coconuts from trees near
the building. Why take a chance?" Mani Bhavan's executive secretary,
Meghshyam Ajgaonkar, told the BBC.
Last week American security officers inspected Mani Bhavan and its
surroundings along with other places the president is likely to
visit.
Every year in India people are injured or even killed by falling
coconuts.
Mr Obama, still smarting from heavy losses in the midterm elections,
will visit India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and China on the
10-day tour.
* * * * *
Have to watch out for Mad Cows too. Hillary was last reported to be
in Kuala Lumpur. Don't forget the poo-flinging monkeys, though
they're still in shock after the Tuesday election results.
|