Ricky Martin struts his stuff at Bush bash

Ricky Martin has sung to George W Bush at the President-elect's inaugural party.

The singer swivelled his hips to the Latino beat - but wore an extra-long jacket to cover up his gyrations in what the New York Post described as the Bush administration's first cover-up.

Bush seemed a bit hesitant as Martin went over to lead the next president on stage for the four-day party at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC .

Bush admits he is a "cumbersome" dancer, but has vowed to dance with wife Laura at inaugural balls, using his famous box-step.

Bush's election campaign highlighted problems in attracting Hollywood stars to the Republican camp, after showbiz glitterati - from Tom Hanks to Michael Jackson - flocked to be with Clinton.

"It's easier to declare yourself a gay, drug-addicted kleptomaniac than to call yourself a conservative in Hollywood," publicist Michael Levine told the Los Angeles Times.

The inaugural committee announced last week Van Morrison would be the headliner, only to have a spokesman for the Irish singer announce this week he had no such plans. It is also rumoured the Backstreet Boys declined to appear.

But critics took another look when the committee landed Martin, the Puerto Rican heart-throb who is up for one Grammy this year and definitely stands out from some of the more retro-talent on hand to entertain the new president and first lady.

Among those appearing during the four-day celebration are actor Sylvester Stallone, former heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali, actress Bo Derek and the Beach Boys.

Bush officially takes the presidential oath - 35 words written more than 200 years ago - at 1700 GMT on Saturday.