Prime Minister Jean Chretien's office was notified by White House national security adviser Condoleezza Rice that Bush will postpone the planned May 5 visit to Ottawa, the National Post reported.

Officials in Chretien's office could not be immediately reached for comment, but Andre Lemay a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said: "As of yesterday, we were not aware of any changes" to the trip.

The White House would not confirm or deny the trip had been postponed.

Canada refused to support the US-led war, saying it would not participate in military action against Iraq without approval from the United Nations.

US Ambassador Paul Cellucci last month rebuked Ottawa for not fully supporting its closest neighbor and ally and criticized anti-American comments from within the Chretien government.

In November, a Chretien spokeswoman had to resign after calling Bush a "moron."

More recently, antiwar Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish called Americans "bastards" and Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal said Bush had failed as a statesman.

The source, cited by the newspaper, said the decision by a Canadian navy commander in the Persian Gulf not to hand over any fugitive members of the Iraqi regime was the final straw for the US government to delay the trip.

"People of good faith can disagree on this (war) but the (Prime Minister Jean Chretien) governement tries to split it so well that the (Americans) see thme as just muddling along," the source told the daily.

On Friday, Chretien responded to a question about would happen if Bush cancelled his trip, saying "I don't know what will happen. So far it's on. But it's coming at an awkward time for him."

If Bush were unable to come to Ottawa next month, "we will invite him again," he said.

Canada has three ships, a handful of planes and about 1,000 soldiers -- including 31 integrated with coalition troops on the ground in Iraq as part of training program -- in the Persian Gulf, supporting the continued war against terrorism.

SPACE.WIRE