"The Iranian Embassy has informed us that Mottaki's visit has been postponed," a Lebanese foreign ministry official told AFP.

He did not give reasons for the delay or any new date.

Lebanese officials earlier announced that Mottaki was due to arrive on Thursday ahead of a trip to Turkey to attend a conference on Iraq.

His visit was aimed at finding a way to end the deadlock between the March 14-led government and the opposition, which is backed by regional allies Syria and Iran, they said.

Lebanese lawmakers have failed to agree on a consensus candidate to replace incumbent President Emile Lahoud, whose mandate expires next month.

Fears are running high that the row could lead to two rival governments and a return to the final years of the 1975-1990 civil war, when two competing administrations battled for control. -AFP