Diana pulls out of mines meeting

Diana, Princess of Wales, pulled out of a meeting with MPs about land mines yesterday, after complaints from Conservatives that she had allowed herself to become involved in politics.

The Princess, who has been campaigning for a worldwide ban on mines, was due to appear at a recruitment meeting of the House of Commons All- Party Land Mines Eradication Group.

However, after media claims that she was dragging the Royal Family into a political issue, she issued a statement which said her attendance at the meeting had become "untenable."

She is, however, expected to continue visiting countries affected by landmines. The Princess's officials maintained that her interest in a worldwide ban on mines was entirely humanitarian.

Last night, the group's vice chairman, the Conservative peer Lord Jopling, said: "I very much regret that this highly important issue is in danger of being hijacked in this way."

Martin Bell, the independent MP for Tatton and a former war reporter, said the row was "so sad."

"It was going to be a private meeting. The issue is not political at all. I regret that she is not going to be there because I think ther work in the cause has been inspiring," he said.