26 Aug 2009
Libyan leader Moamer Qadhafi might be forced to kick his habit of staying in a tent during his upcoming visit to New York.

US officials may prevent Qadhafi from pitching a tent near the angry relatives of Lockerbie bombing victims during his stay in the city next month for the opening of the UN General Assembly, where Libya is presiding.

The Libyan leader observes the Bedouin customs strictly and camps in a tent when he travels anywhere in the world, from Rome's main park to a garden across from the Elysee Palace in Paris.

UN officials said it would be his first trip to the world body in his 40 years in power.

Libya's warm reception of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi, whom Scotland freed last week on compassionate grounds, has angered US officials and the families of the victims of the bombing.

Senator Frank Lautenberg has urged the State Department to confine Qadhafi to the immediate UN area and block him from planting his tent on the grounds of a Libyan diplomat in the nearby suburb of Englewood, New Jersey.

Lautenberg, who represents New Jersey, says the town is very close to the homes of many families of Lockerbie bombing victims, AFP reported.

"Given recent events, I believe the State Department should ensure that Colonel Qadhafi 's entry into the United States is for official UN business only and does not allow him to travel freely," Lautenberg said.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly noted Tuesday that the US had an agreement with the UN to let in foreign leaders, noting that the agreement would make it difficult to restrict Qadhafi within the New York area.

"Of course our priority has been and will remain the families of the victims of this tragedy," Kelly said.

"We're also talking to the Libyans to highlight the concerns that we have and the very raw sensitivities of the families who live in that area," he said.

"As far as the legal levers that we would have, I'm not sure." Kelly added.

presstv