Ricky clashes with president's bodyguards

2001-04-09 11:14

Rio de Janeiro - Ricky Martin clashed with the bodyguards of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso who was having lunch in the same hotel where the pop singer was staying, local press reported on Sunday.

Martin, here to film a television special, was walking to his hotel room when he tried to walk through an area reserved for the president and was prevented from going any further by Cardoso's bodyguards.

Cardoso was having lunch with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

The singer apparently attempted to convince the bodyguards for some five minutes to let him pass, but received much the same treatment his own fans receive when they try to bypass his own bodyguards: no.

Finally Martin turned around and found another way to his room, the media said.

The singer who hit the top of the pop music charts for his songs "Maria" and "Livin' La Vida Loca", was in the resort city filming a television special for the Brazilian network Globo. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA