A militant pro-rape campaigner from American has cancelled planned events in Scotland due to fears for the safety of his supporters.

The controversial blogger Daryush Valizade, known as Roosh V, sparked outrage after he organised the meetings in Edinburgh and Glasgow on Saturday.

Valizade, 36, was not due to attend in person but planned to speak via video-link to any supporters who attend the events at Glasgow's George Square and the Grassmarket in Edinburgh.

The move by the blogger, who wants rape in private homes to be legalised, came after he claimed to have received more threats from Glasgow than anywhere else in the world combined.

He wrote: "I've received more threats from Glasgow than anywhere else combined. Is it some kind of convict resettlement zone?"

Events in other cities around the world were also due to take part.

However Valizade announced all events were now cancelled because he could not "guarantee the safety or privacy" of his supporters who wished to attend the events.

He wrote on his website on Thursday: "I can no longer guarantee the safety or privacy of the men who want to attend on February 6, especially since most of the meetups can not be made private in time.

"While I can’t stop men who want to continue meeting in private groups, there will be no official Return Of Kings meetups. The listing page has been scrubbed of all locations. I apologise to all the supporters who are let down by my decision."

Valizade says on his website, which promotes the events, that it is time for his supporters to "come out of the shadows and not have to hide behind a computer screen for fear of retaliation".

Police this week also issued a warning ahead of the two controversial events and almost 60,000 Scots signed a petition calling for a ban on the controversial blogger airing his views here.

Valizade writes guidebooks for sex tourists and has argued for rape to be legalised on private property.

In a blog post in 2015, Valizade wrote: "I propose that we make the violent taking of a woman not punishable by law when done off public grounds. If rape becomes legal under my proposal, a girl will protect her body in the same manner that she protects her purse and smartphone."

He has been branded "hateful and misogynistic" by human rights groups and hosts a website that "strongly discourages" women and homosexual men from commenting.

A statement from Police Scotland on the events said: "Police Scotland is aware of the proposed pick up artist events in Glasgow and Edinburgh on Saturday evening.

"Our focus remains on keeping communities safe and our response will be proportionate, appropriate and will be determined by the circumstances of any incident or event.

"The comments that have featured on social media and the internet have caused a great deal of anxiety to communities. It must be stressed that any offensive or threatening behaviour whether in public or online will be investigated and appropriate action taken."

Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald said: "Any event planned to coach men to coerce women into having sex is not a free speech issue but a public safety issue.

"Can I also condemn the sick minded half-wits who support these events and were planning to attend and welcome that they will now be sitting in their underpants eating cold ravioli form a tin instead this weekend."