Iranian officials say they still hope to work out an agreement for their country's president to lay a wreath at the World Trade Center site when he visits New York next week, local media reported on Thursday.

 

New York police officials rejected on Wednesday a request by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit the site because of ongoing construction and security concerns.

 

Ahmadinejad is scheduled to arrive in the city on Sunday, to address the United Nations General Assembly.

 

US ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad said that the US will not support Iran's attempt to use the site for what he calls a "photo op." The US and Iran have no diplomatic relations for nearly 30 years.

 

However, Ahmadinejad will be making a visit to Columbia University in New York. He will take part in a question and answer session with faculty and students at the school's World Leaders Forum.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2007)