UPDATE: Threats Prompt LiveLeak.com To Pull Out Anti-Koran Film

March 29, 2008 1:03 p.m. EST

Amsterdam, Netherlands (AHN) - The anti-Koran film has been removed from U.K.-based video-sharing site on Friday, following serious threats received by the site's staff, a day after it was posted. The controversial film, Fitna, produced by anti-Islamic Dutch MP lawmaker, Geert Wilders was replaced with an official statement from LiveLeak.com, emphasizing the need to prioritize the safety of its employees.

"Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some ill-informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly lead to the harm of some of our staff, LiveLeak.com has been left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers," the statement said, according to InformationWeek.

It also wrote that pulling out "Fitna" from the site is a big blow for the freedom of speech on the net, but was quick to point out that LiveLeak believes it has "to place the safety and well being of (its) staff above all else".

Liveleak.com's management also called for a venue that would provide a cultural dialogue and exchange.

"Perhaps there is still hope that this situation may produce a discussion that could benefit and educate all of us as to how we can accept one another's culture. We stood for what we believe in, the ability to be heard, but in the end the price was too high," the statement was quoted as saying by InformationWeek.

Meanwhile Fitna, featuring Koranic verses of set against grim footages of violent attacks like the 9-11 attacks in the U.S. and the train-bombing in Spain, has received condemnation by Muslims worldwide and by other prominent individuals whose works had been integrated in the documentary.

It was posted at LiveLeak.com at around 7 p.m. central European time and recorded more than 1 million hits an hour after posting.