Intruder in US guest house during Indian PM’s visit

WASHINGTON, SEPT 20: An intruder made his way into the official U S Guest residence opposite the White House on a day when Indian Prime Mi...

WASHINGTON, SEPT 20: An intruder made his way into the official U S Guest residence opposite the White House on a day when Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was staying there last week, the U S Secret Service said on Tuesday.

Secret Service spokesman Mark Connolly said an intruder, identified as Dipal Pandya, was arrested on Saturday evening for unlawful entry at the Blair House guest residence.

"The incident is under investigation. The Prime Minister was not in the Blair House at the time and was not in any danger," Connolly said.

Vajpayee stayed at the house on Saturday night and was under Secret Service protection during his visit to the United States, Connolly said. He declined to comment on the security arrangements for Blair House.

The house is located across from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, which is closed to vehicle traffic and watched over by guard houses at both ends of the block.

During official visits by foreign leaders, security is stepped up with barricades restricting pedestrian traffic around the house.

Pandya, 27, of Matewan, New Jersey, was charged with a misdemeanor count of unlawful entry and released on his own recognizance. A trial was set for October 31 in D C Superior Court, said Channing Phillips, a spokesman for the U S Attorney for the District of Columbia.

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Blair House was built in 1824 and was acquired in 1836 by Washington Globe newspaper publisher Francis Blair. In 1943 it was combined with the neighbouring Lee House to serve as the official U S Guest residence.