Singer Pete Doherty cancels UK tour

LONDON, Oct 7 (Reuters) Singer Pete Doherty has cancelled the rest of a British tour with his band Babyshambles to give himself more time to recover from his drug addiction treatment, his spokesman said today.

Doherty, 27, known as much for his on-off relationship with model Kate Koss and his well-publicised drug problems as his music, was more than halfway through the 13-date tour.

The concerts were his first since leaving a drug London rehabilitation clinic.

''It is now clear that Peter embarked on this arduous and high profile tour too soon after his discharge,'' the spokesman said.

''The band apologises to fans but hopes that they will understand the importance of Peter being able to best continue his good progress in recovering from addiction,'' he added.

The band cancelled a concert in Liverpool yesterday night and the remaining four dates in Glasgow, Nottingham, Manchester and Newcastle.

Critics have praised Doherty's performances during the tour, with several newspapers using the headline ''Pete's no shambles''.

Moss joined the band onstage to sing during ''La Belle and La Bete''. One reviewer said she ''chirped self-consciously and almost inaudibly, then ran off, waving her arms like an excited schoolgirl''.

The couple are regular fixtures in Britain's tabloid papers.

The Sun today showed pictures of a bare-chested Doherty supposedly ''storming out'' of Moss's home at 3:30 am (local time) after a row.

Reuters KD GC1958