LONDON (AFX) - French ministers have sought a delay in the Jan 1 introduction of euro notes and coins because of the current international uncertainty, according to a report in the Washington Post. "French cabinet ministers have suggested that given the state of the world economy and the complications arising from the Sept 11 attacks in the US, the euro's full adoption should be postponed indefinitely until calm is restored around the world," the daily said, without elaborating. The newspaper, noted, however that EU leaders agreed at their summit in Ghent, Belgium, on Friday to "press ahead with the euro timetable after concluding that any delay would only spread panic and deepen public distrust of the new currency". The report follows the recent comment by European economic and monetary affairs commissioner Pedro Solbes that the aftermath of Sept 11 is diverting the attention of some key protagonists from the countdown to the euro cash launch. Political commentators have observed that France's political leaders, with presidential and legislative elections due early next year, are anxious about the euro changeover.