Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has pulled out of a planned meeting with European Union foreign ministers next week due to the deteriorating security situation in his country.
Netherlands, which holds the EU presidency, had invited Mr Allawi to brief the EU's 25 foreign ministers on Monday on the role his interim government expected the bloc to play in the reconstruction of Iraq after the US-led occupation ended there last month.
"Prime Minister Allawi will not be able to attend the meeting because of the situation in his country," an EU diplomat told reporters.
He added the EU was in talks with Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari about possibly coming in Mr Allawi's place.
Mr Allawi had to scrap what would have been his first foreign trip as prime minister to handle security in Iraq, where militants hold a Filipino and two Bulgarians under death threat.
The diplomat said the EU ministers would still discuss ways to help in the reconstruction of Iraq, including aid, assistance in establishing the rule of law and police training.
The EU was deeply divided over the decision of the United States and Britain to invade Iraq. France and Germany led bitter opposition to military action.