The New Nation - Internet Edition

Agencies, New York

The prostitute at the centre of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's sex scandal has been named by US media.

The woman, named in court papers as Kristen, is Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the New York Times reported.

Ms Dupre, 22, told the Times she did not want "to be thought of as a monster", but gave no comments on her alleged relationship with Spitzer.

He resigned after evidence came to light that he was the client of a high-end prostitution ring. The scandal erupted on Monday when federal investigators revealed that a wiretap had caught the 48-year-old arranging to meet "Kristen" at a Washington hotel on 13 February. Flanked by his wife, Spitzer told a news conference on Wednesday that he could not allow "private failings" to disrupt public work. He is to hand over power on Monday.

Spitzer again apologised for not living up to the standards he demanded of others - but he gave no details of the allegations against him.

Allegations based on law enforcement sources quoted by Associated Press and New York Times

Ms Dupre was born Ashley Youmans. She left home in New Jersey at the age of 17 and moved to New York where she hoped to become a singer, the Times said.

Ms Dupre did not comment when asked by the newspaper when she first met Spitzer and how many times they had met.

"This has been a very difficult time. It is complicated," she told the Times.

It is not clear whether or not Ms Dupre will face charges but she is reported to have hired a lawyer.

Federal investigators have alleged that a wiretap caught Spitzer arranging to meet a $1,000-an-hour prostitute named Kristen who worked for the Emperor's Club VIP prostitution ring.

Spitzer is reported to have paid thousands of dollars over 18 months to the ring.

He could be charged with soliciting and paying for sex, breaking banking laws and with transporting someone across state lines for immoral purposes.

He could also lose his license to practice law in New York.

It marks a spectacular downfall for the man once known as the "Sheriff of Wall Street" for his investigations of organised crime, financial crime and prostitution.

The father of three teenage girls is a leading supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton in her battle against Senator Barack Obama to become the Democratic Party's candidate for president.

Spitzer's deputy, Lieutenant-Governor David Paterson, is to take over on Monday, to become New York's first black governor as well as its first blind governor.