IOC sympathise with Blair over London blasts

The International Olympic Committee said the blasts would not affect the decision, made on Wednesday, to award the 2012 Games to London.

Bomb blasts on the underground network and a double-decker bus paralysed the capital on Thursday.

Celebrations to mark the homecoming from Singapore of the successful London bid team have been cancelled.

The team are due to fly back into Heathrow Airport on Friday where a news conference had been scheduled.

"The plans that were laid out for the farewell and arrival celebrations have been cancelled," said new Olympics minister Tessa Jowell.

"It would be completely inappropriate in view of this appalling tragedy."

Mr Livingstone, speaking from Singapore before flying back to the UK, called the explosions a "cowardly attack."

He said it was an "indiscriminate" attempt at slaughter with no consideration for age or religion.

London 2012 spokesman Mike Lee expressed expressed "horror and revulsion" at what had happened.

"All Olympic celebrations are off," he said.