Qaddafi's tent-erection stopped by the US officials.Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:01:58 GMT - Town officials in Bedford, New York, have ordered workers to stop erecting Muammar Gadhafi's tent where he was supposed to stay during his visit to the US.
The Libyan leader whose country assumed the rotating presidency of the General Assembly last week is due to address the UN body on Wednesday.
Gadhafi had to stay in the Libyan diplomatic mission last night in Manhattan following the stop work order issued by the authorities banning him from erecting a Bedouin-style tent on a property the Libyans had rented from Donald Trump in suburban New York.
The Bedford's attorney said on Tuesday that Gadhafi's tent violated town zoning and land laws.
"I discussed this matter with town officials, and the town building inspector believes that this would constitute a violation of several town zoning and land use laws," Bedford town attorney Joel Sachs said, according to CNN.
"I directed the town building inspector to immediately go to the property and issue a stop work order, which would the individuals to cease erecting the tent."
After being rejected by New York City's Central Park and by the town of Englewood, N.J., the Libyans posed as Dutch diplomats to rent a Manhattan townhouse that had a large roof that could have accommodated a tent.
The US State Department officials maintained that there are no limitations on the Libyan leader's visa that would bar him from traveling to the neighborhood.
They said their understanding was that Gadhafi was not staying at the tent, but was receiving people there.
Relations between the US and Libya were strained after the release of the terminally-ill AbdelBaset al-Megrahi, a Libyan who was convicted of being behind the Lockerbie bombing.
Upon his arrival in Libya, al-Megrahi received a heros welcome by Gadhafi, a move that further angered Washington.
RELATED:
CIA.gov | The World Factbook -- Libya
The Libyan leader whose country assumed the rotating presidency of the General Assembly last week is due to address the UN body on Wednesday.
Gadhafi had to stay in the Libyan diplomatic mission last night in Manhattan following the stop work order issued by the authorities banning him from erecting a Bedouin-style tent on a property the Libyans had rented from Donald Trump in suburban New York.
The Bedford's attorney said on Tuesday that Gadhafi's tent violated town zoning and land laws.
"I discussed this matter with town officials, and the town building inspector believes that this would constitute a violation of several town zoning and land use laws," Bedford town attorney Joel Sachs said, according to CNN.
"I directed the town building inspector to immediately go to the property and issue a stop work order, which would the individuals to cease erecting the tent."
After being rejected by New York City's Central Park and by the town of Englewood, N.J., the Libyans posed as Dutch diplomats to rent a Manhattan townhouse that had a large roof that could have accommodated a tent.
The US State Department officials maintained that there are no limitations on the Libyan leader's visa that would bar him from traveling to the neighborhood.
They said their understanding was that Gadhafi was not staying at the tent, but was receiving people there.
Relations between the US and Libya were strained after the release of the terminally-ill AbdelBaset al-Megrahi, a Libyan who was convicted of being behind the Lockerbie bombing.
Upon his arrival in Libya, al-Megrahi received a heros welcome by Gadhafi, a move that further angered Washington.
RELATED:
CIA.gov | The World Factbook -- Libya
