US bloggers are up in arms over former Australian prime minister John Howard "bumping" President-elect Barack Obama from an official government guest house in Washington.

Mr Howard will stay at Blair House the night before he receives the US Medal of Freedom from retiring President George Bush next week.

Mr Obama has been forced onto the Blair House waiting list until January 15 when he and his family will move in - five days before his inauguration as president.

The Obamas requested an early move-in at the 70,000-square-foot, 119-room mansion across the street from the White House, so their children could settle in to start school this week, The Washington Post reported.

But the incoming first family was told the residence had been booked out, so they took a suite at the nearby Hay-Adams Hotel.

President Bush has been the main target for criticism from bloggers to political sites.