Barmy Army force out Pakistan's president

The Barmy Army invasion has squeezed the president of Pakistan out of Wellington.

General Pervez Musharraf arrives on Friday for a weekend of talks with Prime Minister Helen Clark.

But the entire 55-strong delegation will only visit Auckland because there is not any available accommodation in Wellington.

Foreign Affairs says there are only a few hotels in the capital that can cope with a delegation of that size, and they are all booked out for the Lions tour.

General Musharraf brings his wife, several Cabinet Ministers, six businessmen, journalists and 10 of his own security officers the second-ever visit by a Pakistani president.

The Lions play Wellington in the capital on Wednesday night.

- NEWSTALK ZB