London, Feb 26 (DPA) The British Council, a government-sponsored organisation for promotion of cultural ties abroad, plans to slash its European operations to focus on "spreading cultural values in the Middle East and Asia," it was reported Monday.

It would divert 7.5 million pounds ($14.7 million) - nearly a third of its public money spent in Europe - to countries stretching east from Saudi Arabia to Kazakhstan.

These included "building trust with the Islamic states and China," Davidson told the Press Association.

The council would scrap "traditional arts activities" in Europe, such as orchestral tours and artistic commissions, in favour of projects "designed to prevent Muslim youths from being indoctrinated by extremists sympathetic to al-Qaeda," the Times said.

The changes would mark the most sweeping transformation since the creation of the council in 1934, it added.

The Council is an independent body financed with an annual grant of 186 million pounds from the Foreign Office, and around 300 million pounds earned through providing English language classes and examinations.