Iran president banned from laying wreath at Ground Zero

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The Iranian president, who is arriving on Sunday to address the United Nations General Assembly, had asked the city's police department, the US Secret Service and the port authorities for permission to visit the site of the 11 September terrorist attacks.

The request was rejected because of ongoing construction there, an NYPD spokesman said. "Requests for the Iranian president to visit the immediate area would also be opposed by the NYPD on security grounds."

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said yesterday that the city was considering Mr Ahmadinejad's request. But his comments prompted an outcry from politicians and families of the 11 September victims.

The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, said America would not support Iran's attempt to use the site for a "photo op". "Iran can demonstrate its seriousness about concern with regard to terrorism by taking concrete actions" such as dropping support for Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and suspending the Iranian uranium-enrichment programme, Mr Khalilzad said.

It was unclear whether Mr Ahmadinejad wanted to go to the site itself, where the twin towers stood, or lay a wreath on a sidewalk outside.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the visit was "a matter for the city of New York, but it seems more than odd that the president of a country that is a state sponsor of terror would visit Ground Zero".

Mohammad Mir Ali Mohammadi, of the Iranian mission to the UN, said: "President Ahmadinejad intended to lay a wreath to pay tribute to the victims of the terrorists' attack. We are hopeful that we can still work something out with the police department."