DES MOINES (AP) - A planned debate next week in Sioux City among Republican presidential rivals has been scrubbed because most of the candidates decided not to participate.

Instead, sponsors of the debate will hold a town hall-style meeting for the two candidates who agreed to take part, John McCain and Mike Huckabee.

The debate's sponsors included AARP, the nation's largest group representing seniors. The event was to have been broadcast live on Iowa Public Television and fed to PBS for use throughout the country.