'Ugly' Moore mauled by minister

Moore said prime minister John Howard had "half a brain"

An Australian government minister has described Fahrenheit 9/11 film-maker Michael Moore as "the quintessential ugly American".

Moore criticised the Australian prime minister's support of US president George Bush, saying: "What is John Howard doing in bed with an idiot?".

Treasurer Peter Costello responded by saying the attack showed Moore to be "the quintessential ugly American".

He added: "I don't think anybody in Australia would take that seriously."

'Unpopular'

Documentary film Fahrenheit 9/11 criticises President Bush over the Iraq war and his response to the 11 September terrorist attacks.

In an interview broadcast in Australia, Moore described long-standing Australian prime minister John Howard as "someone with half a brain".

Saying he was bewildered that Howard had chosen to back Bush's war plan, the film-maker told the Nine Network: "What was he promised? He knew this wouldn't be popular with the Australian people."

Mr Costello said the comments would not be taken seriously

He added: "Personally, though I have no say in any of this because I'm not an Australian, I hope the Australian people throw Mr Howard and his people out of office for participating in this."

Mr Costello, who holds the second highest position in the Australian government, criticised Moore, but said the film-maker was entitled to express his views.

"Mike Moore is entitled to his opinion but that's the quintessential ugly American, sitting down attacking the Australian prime minister," said Mr Costello.

Meanwhile Fahrenheit 9/11 debuted at number one at the United Arab Emirates' box office last week, its first showing in an Arab state in the Middle East.

Local distributor Front Row Entertainment said the film attracted 26,000 viewers in five days, earning a box office tally of $211,000 (£114,000).

Kuwait ban

Audiences comprised mostly of expatriates, including Iraqis, some of whom "walked out of the theatre describing Fahrenheit 9/11 as a highly affecting and emotional film too painful to bear," said Front Row managing director Gianluca Chacra.

The film has been banned in Kuwait but was released on Tuesday in Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.

It was released amid controversy over Front Row's alleged acceptance of donations from organisations related to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Mr Chacra told industry website Screen Daily that no such funds were received, only an offer of assistance in publicising the film.

"Naturally we didn't reply negatively to that, as they have a huge impact on Lebanese and Muslim audiences," he said.

"The only possible response we could give them was: 'Go watch the film, and if you like it, you're free to publicise it.'"