PETE DOHERTY - LIBERTINES DIVIDE FORCES FESTIVAL AXE

The fallout after PETE DOHERTY's departure from British rockers THE LIBERTINES continues - a British music festival has been cancelled because the band won't perform without him.

The group were scheduled to headline anti-fascism event LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM at the city's HAMMERSMITH APOLLO this Sunday (06JUN04) - but organisers have axed the bash, after Doherty travelled to Paris last week (28MAY04) announcing he had quit the band.

Doherty - who is battling drug addiction - is currently in rehab in the French capital, while his bandmates remain hopeful they can persuade him back to the band.

A statement from festival organisers UNITE AGAINST FASCISM reads, "The reason for the cancellation is that the main headline act, The Libertines, have had to pull out of Sunday's show due to the ill-health of guitarist Peter Doherty. Until today the band and their management still felt that the band would be able to play.

"Unfortunately, Peter's recovery from illness has not progressed as quickly as everyone expected, and the rest of the band are understandably unwilling to do any show without Peter at this difficult time."

A separate statement from the band themselves adds, "The Libertines have had to cancel due to Peter being in rehab in France. Peter is making great progress and will be home soon - the band continue to support UNITE AGAINST FASCISM and Love Music Hate Racism and will continue to do so, with other gigs in the near future."