Two weeks after the developer of a controversial Islamic center and mosque planned near ground zero distanced himself from the imam who co-founded the project, the imam has raised confusion over who is in charge by suggesting that he would move the center to a less contentious space if an opportunity arose, according to an article in today's edition of The New York Times by Paul Vitello.

The article said that "the imam, Feisal Abdul Rauf, told the editorial board of The Buffalo News last week during a speaking tour in upstate New York that if someone offered another site, 'I would move; I would move because my whole life is about improving relationships with people.'"

Sharif el-Gamal, the real estate investor who owns the property and co-founded the project, known as Park51, with Mr. Abdul Rauf in 2009, has insisted, the article said, that he will build the community center and mosque as originally planned: at 51 Park Place in Lower Manhattan.

Differences between Mr. Gamal and Mr. Abdul Rauf, which were apparently papered over during a summer-long storm of opposition to the project, led to their recent split, which Mr. Gamal announced unilaterally on Jan. 14. In a statement then, Mr. Gamal said Mr. Abdul Rauf would no longer raise money for or speak on behalf of Park51, though he would remain one of four on its board of directors.

On Monday, the article continued, "Mr. Gamal issued a statement reiterating his independence from the imam: 'As we have been stating for over a year now, Park51 is not moving its location under any circumstances. Imam Feisal has no authority or control over this project, over its board of directors or over Soho Properties, which controls the real estate. Park51, the Islamic Community Center in Lower Manhattan, is more than any one personality or imam.'"

In an interview on Monday, the article said that "Mr. Abdul Rauf said he had accepted his lower profile in the Park51 project, which he has always referred to as Cordoba House. 'Because Sharif owns the real estate, he has taken this responsibility upon himself,' Mr. Abdul Rauf said. 'So I have decided to concentrate on broader issues, interfaith dialogue, which has always been my work.'"

Despite vociferous opposition from families of 9/11 victims and others who have said it would be insensitive to build an Islamic center two blocks from the site of the terrorist attacks, the plan has received site approvals from the city's Landmarks Commission and the neighborhood community board. Mr. Gamal acknowledges, though, that fund-raising for the $100 million project is in its early stages.

A new imam, Abdallah Adhami, was to take up Mr. Abdul Rauf's role in leading Friday religious services in a temporary prayer space at the project site, a former clothing store, Mr. Gamal announced last month. But a week later, the article said that "Park51 spokesmen distanced themselves from statements made by Mr. Adhami, too, after NY1 reported that he had said in a taped lecture that homosexuality was usually caused by abuse in childhood."

"Imam Adhami is not a leader of this project," said a Park51 statement issued last week. "He will not be on the board, nor will he be a member of the executive leadership team when it is formed." The statement called Mr. Adhami one of many religious and civic leaders who will have a role in the center's wide spectrum of programs, adding, "The opinions voiced by this diverse group of advisers will not always represent the official position of Park51."