LONDON, England (AFP) — Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair yesterday cancelled a planned book signing session in London to promote his memoirs after anti-war protestors threatened to target it.

The announcement came two days after Blair had missiles thrown at him outside another book signing session in Dublin, which was picketed by around 200 demonstrators, many opposed to his role in the 2003 Iraq war.

"I have decided not to go ahead with the signing as I don't want the public to be inconvenienced by the inevitable hassle caused by protestors," Blair said in a statement on

his website.

"I'm really sorry for those — as ever the majority — who would have come to have their books signed by me in person. I hope they understand."

Britain's Stop the War Coalition, which had threatened to stage a large demonstration outside a central London bookshop where Blair had been due to appear Wednesday, claimed victory.

Lindsey German, convener of Stop The War Coalition, said: "Blair was too frightened to appear at the book signing because he knows that the protests represent widespread opposition to his warmongering.

"We will continue to demonstrate against him and believe he should be in court for

war crimes.

"He refuses to apologise for the war and repeatedly justifies a future attack on Iran. He is a serial offender."

"A Journey", published on September 1, is an account of Blair's years leading the Labour party and a decade in power, during which he led Britain into wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.