[Rocol]

Almost five years since the September 11 attacks, the designs for a replacement of the World Trade Centre towers have been unveiled.

The centrepiece will be a skyscraper topped by four shining diamond-shaped panels that will light up lower Manhattan at night.

Until now, the site remained largely undeveloped due to disputes about what should be built - and protests from victims' families.

The tallest tower, designed by British architect Lord Foster, is the height of the Empire State Building.

He has proposed a slender, 71-storey building with criss-crossing beams up and down the sides, crowned by four 100ft spires at its corners in a style reminiscent of an English church tower.

The famous architect said his diamond panels would be inclined towards the planned memorial to the 9/11 attacks as a sign of respect.

He said: "The top of the building is cut in such a way so that it responds to the perspective of that park. Wherever you are... and you look at this tower, it will tell you where the memorial park is."

Lord Foster worked with his British rival Lord Rogers on the designs which have been described as "brilliant" by the New York state governor. Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki also presented his design for a tower.

The buildings will be next to the 1,776ft Freedom Tower, which is now being built.

The whole scheme is due to be unveiled in 2012. They will be arranged in a semicircle in descending height to echo the shape of the Statue of Liberty's torch.

Work on the three latest towers is scheduled to begin in 2007 or 2008 and finish by 2012.

I would have thought that a ' Memorial Park ' dedicated to those that lost their lives in the original WTC Disaster, would have been more appropriate, instead of another ' Tempting Target ' for future terrorists.