BRIDGEHAMPTON (New York) - A HARASSMENT charge has been filed against a Long Island man who police say approached former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and threatened to hit him.

Authorities say Mr John McCluskey repeatedly went up to the former Republican presidential candidate on Saturday afternoon while he was walking in the beach town of Bridgehampton, a haven for the rich and famous on Long Island's eastern end.

Southampton Town police say the 69-year-old man was arrested on a second-degree harassment charge and was released on bail.

It's unclear whether Mr McCluskey has a lawyer.

A woman who answered the telephone at his home said she was renting the place for the summer and knew nothing about the case. -- AP