Chiang Mai (Thailand): Regretting his inability to visit India at this juncture because of crucial discussions on Iraq at the UN, Secretary General Kofi Annan telephoned External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha in Bangkok on October 10 and said he would reschedule his trip at an early date.

Annan conveyed his apologies to Sinha, saying he was unable to undertake the three-day visit from October 12 as he had to attend discussions on Iraq at the UN, which were at a "critical stage".

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters that the UN Secretary General also had to examine a World Bank report on Iraq.

Annan informed Sinha, who is accompanying Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on a four-day visit to Thailand, that he would reschedule his visit to India at an early date, the spokesman said.

Vajpayee arrived in Chiang Mai this morning for a two-day trip to this hometown of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the second largest city of Thailand after Bangkok.

Annan had earlier dropped plans to visit Sri Lanka before attending the Summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Malaysia.

PTI