When Muammar Qaddafi visits New York for the General Assembly at the United Nations next month, he won't be staying in Manhattan as he'd originally hoped. The Libyan leader had asked to pitch his air-conditioned Bedouin tent in Central Park, but the city hasn't allowed people to live in those manicured grounds since shantytowns dotted its greens back in the 19th Century.

Instead, the de-facto leader of the Islamic northern African nation, who hasn't held an official title for 30 years, will be joining the Bridge and Tunnel crowd, setting up camp in Englewood, New Jersey, just over the George Washington Bridge in Bergen County. And the small but affluent community of 29,000 isn't too pleased about it.

Englewood lost five residents in the September 11th attack in New York City eight years ago, and for many who still live there, Qaddafi's visit means hosting the enemy.

"Qaddafi is a dangerous dictator whose hands are covered with the blood of Americans and our allies," said Steve Rothman, a Congressman who represents the area and once served as Englewood's mayor.

And the current mayor, Michael Wildes, said: "People are infuriated that a financier of terrorism, who in recent days gave a hero's welcome to a convicted terrorist, would be welcomed to our shores, let alone reside in our city."

The only problem is, he can legally do it. The tent will be pitched on the grounds of a Libyan-owned mansion in Englewood. What's more, the controversial Libyan will no doubt enjoy soignee status during his time at the UN: the General Assembly this year will be presided over by Ali Abdesselam Treki, a Libyan politician and former ambassador to the UN.

[Image: Getty Images]