New Delhi, Jan. 22: India's police are desperately looking to rustle up an army to protect the world's most powerful man when he comes calling in a few days - not from shadowy terrorists but from unwanted guests with long tails.

Delhi's monkeys, which have the annoying habit of turning up when least expected, are a 'real terror', a police officer conceded.

So ahead of Barack Obama's visit, the Union home ministry has asked Delhi police to secure the 2.5sqkm Raisina Hill when the US President and his entourage pass through the capital's power corridor that houses the Prime Minister's Office and Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The immediate need: 70 monkey-catchers.

'Monkeys in Delhi are a real terror. That is why the ministry asked us to hire monkey-catchers,' the police officer said.

The brief also covers the road opposite the ITC Maurya Sheraton where the US President will put up with First Lady Michelle Obama. The road, where hordes of monkeys are found dawdling every day, appears to be a favourite with the simians.

Obama, the chief guest for the Republic Day Parade, is scheduled to touch down on Sunday for a three-day trip. After landing, he will head straight to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the home of his Indian counterpart, before visiting Rajghat. The ministry's directive is clear: monkeys had better stay away from the scene.

Police officers today held an emergency meeting with civic officials and sought their help to ensure that the rhesus macaques - the common Indian monkeys - got the message. 'We asked the civic officials to arrange for nearly 70 monkey-catchers who will be deployed at strategic locations at Raisina Hill, Rajghat and Maurya hotel,' the police officer said.

The capital's governance hub that adjoins Parliament has long attracted macaques. A few months ago, urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu had asked the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to hire 40 men who could mimic the call of langurs - long-limbed fellow simians the macaques fear.

'We now have only 20 men who can make sounds like langurs. Because of Obama's visit, we are helping Delhi police to hire more such young men,' an NDMC official said.

US security agencies have already inspected the Sheraton five times. 'All the 440 rooms have been booked for Obama and his entourage,' an IB official said.

Over 12,000 police and paramilitary personnel will be deployed from Saturday, while snipers will keep watch from atop residential complexes. 'Personnel of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) - an elite Delhi police squad trained to perform high-risk operations - will also be deployed,' a police officer said.<-3.000>

A couple of days ago top brass of Delhi police officials met US security officials and held a discussions on the arrangements outside Maurya hotel and other places where Obama is scheduled to visit. Nearly 600 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Secret Service officers will oversee the President's security will be in complete charge of the arrangements inside the hotel.

'There will be a four-layer security ring,' the official said, adding; 'An unprecedented security arrangement is in place as Obama feature on the hit list of the Al-Qaeda and other Islamic militant groups,' said the official.