Paul McCartney pays way out of charity minefield

Former Beatle Paul McCartney has pulled out of a Los Angeles fundraiser for landmine victims, saying he can't performbecause of his split with wife Heather Mills.

Adopt-A-Minefieldsaid on Thursday the eventscheduled for Oct. 11 has been cancelled.

"While I continue to be committed to Adopt-A-Minefield and its critical mission, given the current circumstances, I will not be able to attend the gala this year. I have every confidence that they will put on another great event and raise significant funds for the campaign's continuing work," McCartney said in a statement.

McCartney and Mills had hosted the annual fundraiser since 2001.

To compensate for backing out of the event,McCartney has agreed to give the groupa substantial sum rumoured to be 1.6 million ($3.4 million Cdn.).

McCartney is said to be concerned about his imageas the estranged couple battle overcustodyof their two-year-old daughter, Beatrice, andthe division of his fortune.

Mills, who lost her left leg below the knee ina road accident, hassaid she feels kinship with fellow amputees who lose limbs to land mines. Shehas been involved for more than a decade withAdopt-A-Minefield, which supportsUN efforts to remove landmines around the world.

McCartney became involved with the charity after the couple met, and theyhelped set up a branch in the U.K. They both remain patrons.

They helped raise $2 million US at the fundraiser last year. McCartney was to have been the major draw for the eventat the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Mills and McCartney became the public face of several charity projectstogether, including a campaign against the seal hunt forthe U.S. Humane Society that involved a visit to Canada last spring.