THE FOREIGN Office was forced to cancel plans for American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to visit a Blackburn mosque this weekend because of community opposition.

The Masjid Al Hidayah mosque, Millham Street, was approached by officials but did not make it on to the itinerary for the trip because of community feelings about US and British policy on Iraq.

Alex Martindale, chair of Blackburn with Darwen Stop the War Coalition, said: "An historic decision has been made.

"The mosque committee and the surrounding community, in conjunction with Muslim scholars from Blackburn and Preston, have taken the decision to withdraw their invitation to Condoleezza Rice.

"It has been presented that local people would be in support of Jack Straw's invitation to the US Secretary of State. But, this decision is evidence that the bulk of the community, Muslim and otherwise, are strongly against the visit."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "It is a pity that a visit to a mosque will not be included in the trip. But the visit has been organised in conjunction with and with the full support of the local community."

The Secretary of State will be in town as a guest of Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw on Friday and Saturday. Her visit includes meeting civic leaders and representatives of the Muslim community.