LONDON (Reuters) - The Spice Girls on Friday announced they are to cut back their reunion tour "due to family and personal commitments."

They cancelled concerts in China, South Africa, Australia and Argentina and the tour that reunited the British "Girl Power" group in a blaze of publicity is to end in Toronto on February 26.

A spokesman said: "Sadly the tour needs to come to an end by the end of February due to family and personal commitments for Emma, Geri, Mel B, Melanie C and Victoria.

"It was announced in June that, as well as the Europe and the US, the girls planned to visit Australia, China, South Africa and Argentina.

"Due to the phenomenal demand for tickets in the U.K and the U.S. along with the touring logistics for such a massive production it was not possible to fit everything in."

The Spice Girls were one of the biggest pop acts of the 1990s, selling 35 million albums worldwide with such catchy hits as "Wannabe" and "Say You'll Be There."

On their website, the group said of the surprise decision to cut back on the reunion tour: "We want to thank everyone who came to see us. It was all so mad the first time round, so we've really been able to appreciate it properly this time."

(Reporting by Paul Majendie; Editing by Jon Boyle)
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