Mr Brown's spokesman played down the decision, saying Downing Street had made it clear at a briefing on March 19 that Mr Brown would not attend the opening ceremony. -- PHOTO: AP

The confirmation from Brown's Downing Street office on Wednesday means he is the second major world leader after German Chancellor Angela Merkel to do so.

The White House left open the possibility on Wednesday that US President George W. Bush might also skip the opening ceremonies, which some world leaders have suggested would serve as a signal of displeasure over China's crackdown in Tibet.

However, Mr Brown's Downing Street office said he was not boycotting the Olympics and would attend the closing ceremony.

Mr Brown has been under intense pressure from human rights campaigners to miss the Aug 8 opening. However, his decision not to attend was not aimed at sending a message of protest to the Chinese government, the spokesman said on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.

She said the decision had been made weeks ago and was not a stand on principle.

'He had never planned to attend,' she said. 'There is absolutely no change in our position.'

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said in February that he expected many heads of state - including Mr Bush, Dr Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy - to attend the opening ceremony.

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg withdrew in February as an artistic adviser to the opening and closing ceremonies, saying China had not done enough to halt the bloodshed in Darfur. China buys much of Sudan's oil and supplies many of the weapons used in the Darfur conflict.

Mr Brown's spokesman played down the decision, saying Downing Street had made it clear at a briefing on March 19 that Mr Brown would not attend the opening ceremony.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told the British Broadcasting Corp. that Brown 'seems to do the right thing late in the day when he is forced to do so because of public opinion'.

Since London is hosting the next Olympics in 2012 British officials were expected to be prominent at events throughout the games.

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell will represent the British government at the opening of the Beijing games. -- AP

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