Controversial Italian nominee Rocco Buttiglione has announced he is withdrawing his candidacy after it threatened to bring down the European Commission.

The news came over the weekend following weeks of political wrangling which culminated in the entire incoming Commission line-up being postponed ahead of a vote in the European parliament.

MEPs were set to veto the new executive over Buttiglione views on homosexuality and single mothers which they said should disbar him from the human rights role he was due to take up.

Buttiglione said on Saturday that: "I am ready to stand aside to smooth the way for [the] Commission.

"I'm an innocent victim of an orchestrated campaign," he added. "I am not an adversary to human rights, I am a champion of them."

He also thanked new Commission president José Manuel Barroso for having "defended me as much as possible".

The president-elect withdrew his team last Wednesday after failing to secure the backing of MEPs for the proposed line-up.

Controversy had surrounded Barroso's decision to appoint Buttiglione to the justice and equal opportunities brief.

Buttiglione had angered MEPs by describing homosexuality as a sin and apparently criticising single mothers.

In an emergency statement in the parliament, Barroso was forced to retreat - a move that confirmed the growing power of MEPs in relation to the Commission and member states.

"I have come to the conclusion that if a vote is taken today the outcome will not be positive for European institutions or for European projects," said Barroso.

Buttiglione's move came after a summit of EU leaders in Rome on Friday saw emergency talks between Barroso and Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The event also saw the 25 member states officially sign up to the European constitution.