CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- A pair of presidential debates scheduled for next month in Iowa have been canceled because not enough candidates agreed to participate.

A coalition of groups had planned to hold the debates in Cedar Rapids. Republican candidates were to debate Jan. 10, while the Democrats were scheduled Jan. 12. Invitations to the candidates were sent out in early October.

Only two candidates, Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic front-runner, and Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican, had agreed to take part.

Former Sen. Bill Bradley, a Democrat and two Republicans -- George W. Bush, the governor of Texas and John McCain, a senator from Arizona -- declined the invitations. Steve Forbes, Gary Bauer and Alan Keyes had not made definite plans to attend.

The two debates were to have focused on agriculture, conservation, energy and the environment.

"The American people have a right to know the candidates' views on these issues, and the candidates have a responsibility to share their views with the voters," said Deb Callahan, president of the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. "It is troubling that, even when presented with a free, nationally televised forum where they could directly address the voters, the candidates chose not to attend."

Sponsoring groups were to include Gazette Communications Inc., publisher of The Gazette newspaper and Iowa Farmer Today magazine, KCRG-TV and KCRG Radio, the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and the Izaak Walton League of America.