As expected, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill on Thursday that would have allowed gay couples to marry.

The bill was passed by California's Democrat-led legislature, but stopped at the desk of Schwarzenegger in a move he signalled earlier this month.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks at a town hall meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 28 (CP Photo)

Schwarzenegger said he would leave the issue of same-sex marriage to voters and the courts.

"This bill simply adds confusion to a constitutional issue," Schwarzenegger wrote in a statement. "If the ban of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, this bill is not necessary. If the ban is constitutional, this bill is ineffective."

California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez sharply criticized Schwarzenegger's veto.

"History will show that Gov. Schwarzenegger had a chance to end the last vestige of legal discrimination in our state," Nunez said in a statement. "Instead of choosing the way of the future the governor has aligned himself with the enemies of equal rights for all."

INDEPTH: Same sex rights

In 2000, California voters approved a ballot measure defining marriage as between a man and woman, a law San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom defied in 2004 by issuing city marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Newsom's move sparked a national firestorm and has forced a showdown in state court over California's voter-approved ban on gay marriage.

The California Supreme Court invalidated the San Francisco licenses.

"I do not believe the legislature can reverse an initiative approved by the people of California," Schwarzenegger said.