Website yanks anti-Qur'an film after threats to staff

A British-based website said it had removed an anti-Islamic film by a Dutch politician because of what it called "serious threats" to its staff.

LiveLeak.com said Saturday that it had to place the safety and well-being of its staff above all else and yanked the 15-minute film Fitna an Arabic term for "strife" off its site.

Geert Wilders launched his film on Thursday after it had been refused by at least four broadcasters in the Netherlands.

The film, condemned by the Dutch prime minister, among others, intersperses images of theSept. 11, 2001,hijackingsand Islamist bombings with quotations from the Qur'an, Islam's holy book.

On Friday, Iran called for quick intervention by the Dutch and British governments to end the screening of the film.

The United Nations, as well as 27 EU foreign ministers, have joined the chorus of critics who have said they "sharply reject" the premise of the film, whichcontends the Qur'an incites Muslims to violence.

"The vast majority of Muslims reject extremism and violence," said an EU statement released on Saturday.

Muslim officials call for restraint

Just like the Dutch prime minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, EU officials also cautioned against censorship, saying "freedom of speech should be exercised with respect for the beliefs or convictions of others."

Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration Freedom Party, has called for a stop to migrants from Muslim countries as well as a stop to the building of new mosques in the Netherlands. He claims he isn't against Muslims but against their religion.

Dutch officials were bracing for violent demonstrations against Wilders's film, and Dutch Muslim leaders urged restraint.

Late on Friday, two cars were set on fire in the town of Utrecht in a protest against the film, according to police.

However, a police official said he didn't think it was much of a threat: "We don't have the impression it was a co-ordinated action."

No other incidents have been reported in the Netherlands so far.