Libyans pitch tent outside NYC

23 Sep 2009, 9:07 pm   -   Source: AP
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Moammar Gadhafi visits United Nations Headquarters in New York. (AAP)

Moammar Gadhafi visits United Nations Headquarters in New York. (AAP)

According to a State department official, the Libyan Government has pitched a tent in New York that leader Moammar Gadhafi may use for entertaining.

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The Libyan government has pitched a tent in suburban New York that leader Moammar Gadhafi may use for entertaining, according to a State Department official.

And it appears the property was rented from Donald Trump.

The State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of diplomatic sensitivity and protocol concerns, said the property was obtained for the duration of this weeks' United Nations General Assembly.

The official said no one would be staying there overnight.

No-parking signs were going up near Trump's Seven Springs estate in Bedford, around 69km north of Manhattan, where residents include Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren.

TV helicopters showed a tent on the Trump property.

Police would not comment, and Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan would say only that the agency does not discuss the schedules or logistics of people it's protecting.

As word got out, local officials quickly objected to Gadhafi's anticipated presence. Gadhafi, who arrived in New York on Tuesday, will likely face protests over Scotland's recent release of Libyan Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, who was convicted of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 which killed 270 people.

The Trump Organisation said Gadhafi would not be coming to Trump's estate and insisted that Trump has not rented property to the Libyan. But it said part of the estate "was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern partners, who may or may not have a relationship to Mr Gadhafi. We are looking into the matter".

Gadhafi had wanted to pitch a tent at Libya's 2-hectare estate in Englewood, New Jersey, and live and entertain there during the UN assembly. But local opposition turned him away.

Later, the Libyan government asked to use Manhattan's Central Park for a tent, but the request was denied.

Gadhafi is apparently no more welcome in suburban Westchester County.

County Executive Andrew Spano, upon hearing reports that Gadhafi would stay over, said: "There is no legal way to prevent this as he is a head of state, despite the fact that he has a long history as a terrorist. However, from my point of view, he is not welcome in Westchester."

US Republican Nita Lowey said Gadhafi had shown a lack of remorse for the bombing and was "unwelcome throughout the New York area".

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