"I am not in a position to deny it is cancelled," said Annan's spokesman, Fred Eckhard, responding to a report from Berlin by a European news agency.

Eckhard did, however, mention an "erroneous report" which said Annan "will meet in Saint Petersburg with European leaders.

"It is not the case," he said.

On Monday, Eckhard said Annan was to leave Wednesday for a whirlwind tour of four countries at the heart of wrangling over the UN's future participation in Iraq -- Britain, France, Germany and Russia.

SPACE.WIRE