Clooney's bad back postpones tour

The criminal crew from Ocean's Eleven is back, but George Clooney, who stars as gang leader Danny Ocean in the sequel Ocean's Twelve, is out of action with a bad back.

Clooney, who shares executive producer credits on the project, has cancelled a US east coast publicity tour for the movie because of a ruptured disc in his back, says his publicist.

No details were given about the condition, which has forced Clooney to postpone high-profile appearances on television chat shows.

The injury to the 43-year-old star is the second disruption to the publicity steamroller paving the way for the all-star crime caper, which opens on December 10 in US cinemas.

Co-star Julia Roberts has also been unable to participate in the publicity campaign as she gave birth on Sunday to twins, a boy and girl.