Three people were arrested after eggs and shoes were thrown at Blair, 57, as he arrived to sign copies of "A Journey" at a bookshop in Dublin on Saturday and some of the 200 protesters clashed with police.

No injuries were reported and the missiles did not hit Blair.

Anti-war campaigners and the far-right British National Party had said they would protest on Wednesday at the Waterstone's branch in Piccadilly in central London over Blair's decision to join the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"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 protesters," Blair said in a statement on his website.

"I know the Metropolitan Police would, as ever, have done a superb job in managing any disruption but I do not wish to impose an extra strain on police resources, simply for a book-signing."

He said he would sign books for Waterstone's, which would be available from the store on Thursday.

In his memoirs, Blair said he could not have imagined what he called the "nightmare" that unfolded in Iraq. He also echoed previous statements that the 2003 invasion was justified because Saddam Hussein posed a threat and could have developed weapons of mass destruction.