AFP - The US Army plans to restrict media coverage of an appearance by Sarah Palin at a military base to prevent the event from turning into a political protest against President Barack Obama, officials said.

Palin, the former Republican running mate in John McCain's failed 2008 presidential bid, is due to visit Fort Bragg army base in North Carolina on Monday as part of a tour promoting her new book.

After initially prohibiting reporters from covering the book signing, which sparked protests from news organizations, army officials later announced a pool arrangement with a handful of journalists allowed on base "due to space and safety considerations."

"The intent of restricting media coverage is to stop this event from turning into a political platform that is critical of our commander-in-chief," a spokesman for the base, Thomas McCollum, told AFP in an email.

"Fort Bragg, nor any other Army installation, cannot be used or appear to be used as endorsing criticism of the commander-in-chief," he said.

The decision was taken by the garrison commander, Colonel Stephen Sicinski, in accordance with army regulations, he said.

Palin is at the start of a publicity blitz for her memoirs, "Going Rogue," which went on sale Tuesday with a huge initial print run by HarperCollins Publishers of 1.5 million copies.

She dropped a hint Tuesday that she might seek to run for the White House in 2012 as champion of America's Republican right.

"That certainly isn't on my radar screen right now, but when you consider some of the ordinary-turning-into-extraordinary events that have happened in my life, I am not one to predict what will happen in a few years.

She stated her desire was to "help our country." Then, asked if she would play a "major" role in the 2012 presidential election, she answered: "If the people will have me, I will."

A polarizing figure who generates a media frenzy with her every interview, Palin enjoys fervent support among Republican activists.