UNCONSOLIDATED REAL ESTATE AFFILIATES (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Minimum rents	$ 403,415	$ 377,684
Tenant recoveries	187,711	174,874
Overage rents	11,479	13,086
Management and other fees	15,931	16,171
Other	19,267	14,798
Total revenues	637,803	596,613
Expenses:
Real estate taxes	69,272	55,699
Property maintenance costs	23,830	20,531
Marketing	6,519	6,738
Other property operating costs	89,303	86,719
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,797	2,171
Property management and other costs	40,355	41,540
General and administrative	10,933	10,510
Depreciation and amortization	195,433	206,789
Total expenses	437,442	430,697
Operating income	200,361	165,916
Interest income	721	661
Interest expense	(195,383)	(210,760)
Provision for income taxes	(141)	(1,396)
Loss from continuing operations	(27,665)	(182,739)
Discontinued operations	18,927	(11,509)
Allocation to noncontrolling interests	(2,788)	(3,367)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	(13,651)	(197,615)
Equity In Income of Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates:
Net income attributable to the venture	(13,651)	(197,615)
Equity in income of Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates	13,194	5,952
Regional Malls | United States
Equity In Income of Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates:
Number of real estate properties in portfolio	124
Regional Malls | Brazil
Equity In Income of Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates:
Number of real estate properties in portfolio	18
Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates
Revenues:
Minimum rents	199,518	194,234
Tenant recoveries	76,129	76,928
Overage rents	7,842	6,327
Management and other fees	4,916	4,858
Other	21,282	22,819
Total revenues	309,687	305,166
Expenses:
Real estate taxes	25,515	24,285
Property maintenance costs	8,623	10,099
Marketing	3,141	3,386
Other property operating costs	43,438	46,886
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,533	687
Property management and other costs	12,438	12,690
General and administrative	10,267	10,596
Depreciation and amortization	73,185	72,137
Total expenses	178,140	180,766
Operating income	131,547	124,400
Interest income	3,763	2,224
Interest expense	(88,865)	(81,432)
Provision for income taxes	(156)	(219)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	14,356	6,794
Loss from continuing operations	60,645	51,767
Discontinued operations		(927)
Allocation to noncontrolling interests	1,265	108
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	61,910	50,948
Equity In Income of Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates:
Net income attributable to the venture	61,910	50,948
Joint venture partners' share of income	(34,659)	(31,157)
Amortization of capital or basis differences	(14,057)	(13,839)
Equity in income of Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates	$ 13,194	$ 5,952
Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates | United States
Equity In Income of Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates:
Number of joint ventures in which the entity holds interest	19
Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates | Brazil
Equity In Income of Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates:
Number of joint ventures in which the entity holds interest	2
Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates | Regional Malls | United States
Equity In Income of Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates:
Number of real estate properties in portfolio	31
Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates | Regional Malls | Brazil
Equity In Income of Unconsolidated Real Estate Affiliates:
Number of real estate properties in portfolio	18