The authorities in the US town of Bedford, some 50 kilometres from New York City, have prevented Libyan leader Muammar Khadafi from pitching a large tent on the grounds that it violated building regulations. During his trips abroad, the Libyan leader often sleeps in a large Bedouin tent instead of a hotel. Mr Khadafi is due to address the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

The authorities in Bedford learned of Mr Khadafi's plans from the US secret service. The property on which the tent was to have been erected is owned by real-estate tycoon Donald Trump, who apparently was not aware that he was leasing it to the Libyan leader. Mr Trump issued a statement saying the property was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern business partners and that he was looking into the matter.

Previous requests by Mr Khadafi to erect a tent on the property of the Libyan Embassy in New York or in Central Park were turned down.

Libyan leader Muammar Kadhafi
Photo by Open Democracy (flickr)