Property honcho denies Islamic leaders abandoning Ground Zero mosque plans

New York, Aug.17 (ANI): The owner of New York's Soho Properties has rejected suggestions that the Muslim community plans to abandon building a cultural centre and a mosque near Ground Zero, the place where nearly 3000 Americans were killed in 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Fox News quoted property owner Sharif El-Gamal as saying: "This is completely incorrect. We are committed to our plans of building Park51 to serve the community of lower Manhattan. Our mission is one of peace, understanding and tolerance."

He was responding to a report in Israel's English-language newspaper Haaretz, which cited sources in New York as saying Muslim leaders were considering abandoning the controversial plan.

Sources said it was thought abandoning the site was preferable to unleashing a wave of bitterness towards Muslims and that it would also show sensitivity to the families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks and American public generally.

A lack of funding for the project was also quoted as a factor in the decision. (ANI)