THE latest film by Michael Moore, the left-wing polemicist who made an incendiary Oscar acceptance speech days before the Iraq war, has been blocked by Walt Disney, its US distributor.

Disney is thought to be uncomfortable about the film, called Fahrenheit 911, because it links President Bush with prominent Saudis — including the family of Osama bin Laden — and criticises Mr Bush’s handling of September 11 before and after the attacks. The film was to be distributed in the US by Miramax Films, which is owned by Disney.

The film is said to focus on the evacuation of bin Laden’s relatives, many of whom lived in the United States, after September 11. It also features comments from American soldiers in Iraq who are critical of the reasons for the war.

“I would have hoped by now that I would be able to put my work out to the public without having to experience the profound censorship obstacles I often seem to encounter,” said Mr Moore, 50.

Miramax said that it was in discussions with Disney and hoped to resolve the issue amicably. Disney is not expected to change its position. Fahrenheit 911 takes its title from Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s classic 1953 examination of censorship.

Mr Moore won an Oscar for his 2002 documentary, Bowling for Columbine, which sharply criticised American gun control policy. In his Oscar acceptance speech, Mr Moore said: “We live in fictitious times. We live in a time when we have fictitious election results that elect a fictitious President. We live in a time when we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons . . . shame on you, Mr Bush, shame on you . . .”

Mr Moore blamed Disney’s decision on fear that the documentary would jeopardise tax breaks that it receives in Florida, where the President’s brother, Jeb Bush, is Governor.

Disney has suggested that the film is against the company’s interests, because it does not want to be dragged into the highly charged debate over September 11.

Fahrenheit 911 will be competing at the Cannes Film Festival next week.

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