Media carnival greets Zardari

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) Hordes of mediapersons, almost equalling the number of security persons present, thronged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 7, Race Course Road residence here Sunday to cover the luncheon meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.

With the camera crews of almost all prominent Indian news channels pitching opposite the prime minister's residence since morning, the atmosphere was lively with much gossip and discussions about what the much-anticiipated talks between the two leaders would throw up.

The media frenzy reached its peak when Zardari's convoy arrived just after noon and everyone jostled for a better vantage view of the proceedings.

Men from Delhi Police, Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF), National Armed Police(NAP) and Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) manned the barricades around the prime minister's residence and bomb squads passed through the media crowd, scanning every piece of equipment.

The premises of Manmohan Singh's official residence too, were abuzz with activity as the elite security forces kept guard and sniffer dogs prowled the grounds.

The shutterbugs clicked happily when the two leaders appeared for a press briefing and clicked one last time when the Pakistani premier's convoy departed at 2.07 p.m.