A pro-rape blogger has cancelled two planned events in Scotland after claiming 'he can no longer guarantee the safety or privacy of the men who want to attend'.

Daryush Valizadeh, also known as Roosh V, posted a statement on his website to confirm the cancellation of his Return of Kings meet-ups.

The events for 'heterosexual men only' were due to be held in Glasgow and Edinburgh on Saturday, February 6.

Meet-ups were also planned for cities in America, Canada and Australia.

Mr Valizadeh apologised to his 'supporters' who he said have been 'let down' by his decision.

New post: ANNOUNCEMENT: The Meetup On February 6 Is Cancelled https://t.co/QyXpL9pVlM — Roosh (@rooshv) February 4, 2016

In a statement, he said: "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 apologize to all the supporters who are let down by my decision."

It had been reported that there were plans to make the Scottish meet-ups private following a public backlash.

Glasgow residents had previously announced plans to hold a counter event at the meet-up's location in George Square on Saturday.

Mr Valizadeh had suggested that Glasgow was a 'convict resettlement zone' on Twitter yesterday after revealing that he had received more threats from the city than 'anywhere else combined'.

Glasgow MPs today welcomed the forced cancellation of planned events in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The pro-rape blogger was described as “a sick individual” and his supporters as “sick minded half-wits” by Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald.

The SNP MP said: “That this event in Glasgow has been cancelled shows people indeed do make Glasgow.

“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.”

Chris Stephens, Glasgow South West SNP MSP, urged the UK Government to monitor the movements of Roosh V and his associates.

He said: “I wrote to the Home Secretary on this issue following the outrage and anger of my constituents.

“The Australian Government stated it would monitor any applications form Roosh V will the UK government do likewise for him and any members of his group which is promoting a diet of hate.

Alison Thewliss, Glasgow Central SNP MP, said: “It seems a ridiculous irony these events were cancelled for the safety of his supporters given the nature of the events.

“I pay tribute to those campaigners in Glasgow who forced the cancellation of the event and I join the condemnation of this sick individual and his misogynist followers. Sex without consent is rape.”

The MPs comments come the day after Christina McKelvie MSP called for action against Roosh V during a motion at Holyrood.

The 36-year-old American has published 15 books on how to "pick up women" and posts tips on his website on how to "bang" women.

A petition lobbying the police and Home Office to ban the UK events has received more than 55,000 signatures.

Katie Pruszynski, who started the petition on Change.org, said: "He encourages men to ignore when a woman says 'no', he believes rape inside private property should be legal and he routinely refers to women as 'the enemy'.

"He believes sexual gratification is a man's right, wilfully disregarding the issue of consent."

She added in her post online: "We will not accept this form of terror against women. Pro-rape advocates directly threaten our safety and normalise the abuse of women and girls."

In one of his posts, Mr Valizadeh said rape should be legalised "if done on private property".

"Less women will be raped because they won't voluntarily drug themselves with booze and follow a strange man into a bedroom, and less men will be unfairly jailed for what was anything but a maniacal alley rape," he wrote.

A Home Office minister was being summoned to the House of Commons at 10.30am to answer questions from MPs on the cancelled event after shadow women and equalities minister Kate Green asked an urgent question.