An internal combustion engine is provided that performs stoichiometric burn operation under control for providing a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio as basic control for an air-fuel ratio. A particulate filter (PM filter) is provided in an exhaust passage of the engine to trap particulate matter PM contained in exhaust gas. If it is judged that the PM filter will have excessively elevated temperature, fuel cut is prohibited during deceleration. Otherwise, before the prohibition of the fuel cut, the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas is controlled so that the atmosphere of the PM filter is brought into an atmosphere slightly leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.