Dutch anti-Islam film meets with heavy criticism

Balkenende spoke shortly after the film, Fitna - in which Wilders draws links between terrorist acts by Muslim extremists and the words of the Koran - was posted on the www.liveleak.com website Thursday evening. In the run-up to the film's release, Wilders had described the Koran as a "fascist book" that incites people to violence.

The prime minister told reporters during a press conference that the Dutch government regretted the fact that Wilders had decided to release the film, even though the government had asked him to refrain from making it public.

The European Union condemned the film. "We believe that acts, such as the above-mentioned film, serve no other purpose than inflaming hatred," a statement from the Slovenian EU presidency said Friday.

"The European Union and its member states apply the principle of the freedom of speech which is part of our values and traditions.

However, it should be exercised in a spirit of respect for religious and other beliefs and convictions."

EU foreign ministers holding an informal meeting in the Slovenian town of Brdo echoed that sentiment in an implicit condemnation of Wilders' move.

"The message that goes out from Britain is that one can and should combine strong commitment to values of freedom of speech with at the same time respect for religious and racial diversity," Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband was quoted by DPA as saying.

"Freedoms are not really freedoms if they hurt someone ...