Russia's Federal Guard Service is seeking to buy 20,800 dollars worth of mice, declining to reveal what they plan to do with them.

The guard service responsible for the security of President Vladimir Putin has posted a tender for a 3,200-strong army of rodents.

Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda speculated on Friday that the animals could be used to test the food of top officials.

It admitted, however, that a more logical explanation would be to feed the mice to the falcons that are used in the Kremlin to keep the crows away.

The guard service said in its tender it was willing to pay up to 500,000 rubles (20,800 dollars, 13,700 euros) provided the mice are delivered by the end of 2008. Bids for the order closed Thursday.

MRS/MMN