The Jos? Carreras concert has been postponed for two months in the wake of the war in Iraq, the promoters announced yesterday.

The concert by the world-renowned opera singer had originally been scheduled for April 4, but it has been pushed back for two months to June.

The managing director of promoters KH International, Karl Hofer, said: "We have set a tentative date of June 13, but it will still have to be approved by the Cabinet next week.

"We were in talks with the director of Tourism, Judith Hall Bean, and she acknowledged that the Department of Tourism would support the concept of postponement, but stressed the need to have it approved by the Minister of Tourism (Ren?e Webb) and the Cabinet.

"The new date fits in with Jos? Carreras' schedule, the Maritime Museum has agreed, and the Weiner Sinfonie Orchestra."

The Jos? Carreras concert was scheduled to set off the tourist season, but people who had bought tickets, along with the 70-strong orchestra and Mr. Carreras, had expressed concern about flying anywhere while the war was in progress.

Mr. Hofer said: "Many people are worried at the moment; the war situation is unsettling.

"I would rather we wait two months and allow the concert to be what it should be - a world class event."

Mr. Hofer said tickets for the concert were fully refundable for anyone who was not able to make the new date.

Mr. Carreras, who is one of The Three Tenors, will be backed by the Weiner Sinfonie Orchestra, which is conducted by Christian Kolonovits.