Even so, security around the 40-acre U.N. campus in midtown Manhattan has been noticeably tightened.

The New York Police Department has assigned about a dozen uniformed officers to patrol the perimeter of the U.N. compound. They are supplemented by two squad cars posted at the diplomats-staff main gate. IDs for staff, diplomats and press are now more closely scrutinized.

All of which comes less than four weeks before a major summit of world leaders called by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Annan has convened a special sunmit for Sept. 14-16 to discuss issues of welfare and security first tackled at the U.N.'s millennium summit in 2000.

So far, 122 heads of state are committed to attend, and an additional 55 heads of government are also expected. It will be one of the largest gatherings of world leaders ever.

Among those expected in NYC are Presidents George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin of Russia and Jacques Chirac of France. Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon of Israel, Tony Blair of the U.K. and Junichiro Koizumi of Japan are also confirmed guests.

Another VIP in attendence will be Bill Clinton, now a U.N. special representative for tsunami relief.

Editor's note:
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