Ricky meets with Clinton

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin stopped by the White House for a tour, but he didn't limit himself to chatting about the books and paintings in the Oval Office.

Martin had a brief, private visit Tuesday night with President Clinton, then met with Clinton aide Maria Echaveste to express his concerns about Navy bombing exercises on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques.

"The substance of the conversation that he had was with Maria," said White House spokesman Joe Lockhart. "The visit with the president was social."

The singer, who has three Grammy nominations this year, paid his visit without fanfare.