The seat of Indian government is in a section of New Dehli known as Raisina Hill and it was here visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld chose to hold his press conference whilst in India recently.

Imagine his consternation when screeching and abuse was hurled at him from the windows above. This breech of protocol was the work of Rhesus macaque monkeys who share this part of town with the government workers.

Some of you may be thinking that the monkeys were showing an astute appreciation of the situation however they are also a problem for the government workers in the area. Numbering about 1,500 they have been getting more audacious lately. Stealing workers lunch pales and ransacking government offices looking for food.

Attempts to move them have been hampered by Dehli Hindus who believe that monkeys are manifestations of the monkey god, Hanuman, and worshippers come to Raisina Hill every Tuesday handing out bananas .