The annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington DC is likely to be postponed following the terror attacks in the US, German finance officials in Berlin said yesterday. A new venue may also be sought.

Mr Hans Eichel, Germany's Finance Minister, said a postponement of the meeting, due to start on September 29th, was being discussed with other leading industrialised countries, but said no final decision had been made.

The meeting had already been shortened as a result of security concerns arising from plans by thousands of anti-globalisation protesters to hold demonstrations.