By Jane Standley BBC correspondent in New York City

Rudolph Giuliani's lawyer says that the former mayor of New York City is facing demands for $1m a year to settle his divorce from his former wife.

The lawyer, Raoul Felder, made the claim in court in Manhattan, where the former mayor's divorce case is once again making headlines.

Donna Hanover says Rudy can afford it

It dominated New York tabloid newspapers and talk shows before the 11 September attacks on the city which made Mr Giuliani into a household name around the world.

He became the only mayor in the city's history to have to move out of the mayoral mansion because of his domestic difficulties.

Mr Giuliani's estranged wife, - the actress Donna Hanover - had been granted a court ruling that his new companion, Judith Nathan, couldn't stay in the mansion, while she and their two children were living there.

'Fair' figure

Now, the divorce case is back in court and in the headlines.

Donna Hanover's lawyer says the $1m a year settlement she is seeking from the former mayor is fair, as he is now earning that much every month, with speaking engagements and his new management consultancy business.

If the couple have not settled by June, the divorce will go to trial, with what has been already a very acrimonious case, then out in public view.

It is not likely to do much for Rudoplh Giuliani's reputation.

He was named man of the year, and his popularity soared after the attacks on the World Trade Center.

But now, a new opinion poll says only 10% of Americans would like to see him run for public office again.