Moore attacks Blair at screening of controversial film

US FILM-MAKER Michael Moore yesterday launched an attack on British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the screening of his controversial new documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.

Unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival, the documentary about the US war on terror contains scenes certain to send shockwaves though America.

Much of the film centres on the war in Iraq and there is never-seen-before footage of US soldiers hooding and degrading Iraqi detainees.

The stark realities of war are brought home to the American public in battlefield footage of gravely wounded US troops.

Oscar winner Moore directed his anger at US President George W Bush his hope is that the film will ruin the chances of Mr Bush being re-elected in November.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair also makes one appearance in the film, in a spoof of the TV western Bonanza.

In a swipe at the President's Texan roots, Moore superimposes the faces of Mr Bush, Mr Blair, Vice-President Dick Cheney and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on the bodies of the characters.

Accompanied by the Bonanza theme tune, Mr Blair's image pops up on screen prompting laughs from the cinema audience.

Speaking at a post-screening press conference, Moore described Mr Blair's relationship with Mr Bush as an "embarrassment" to the British people.

"What has also sort of depressed me about Tony Blair is he knows better," he said.

"The one thing you can say about Blair is that he's smart. What is he doing hanging out with this guy? They make the weirdest couple I've ever seen.

"I know he misses his old buddy Bill Clinton but to settle for this? Brits, aren't you embarrassed?"

Moore added that Mr Blair was "let off lightly" in the film because he wanted to concentrate his attack on Mr Bush.