LONDON?LiveLeak.com, the British-based video-sharing website hosting a controversial film critical of Islam, defended its decision to allow it to be posted online in a statement Thursday.

The 15-minute movie by Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders, "Fitna", features violent imagery of terrorist attacks intertwined with Koranic texts, and has drawn complaints from religious groups and warnings from the Dutch government that it could provoke violent protests around the world.

But the site said there was no legal reason to censor it.

"LiveLeak.com has a strict stance on remaining unbiased and allowing freedom of speech so far as the law and our rules allow," the website said in a statement posted online.

"There was no legal reason to refuse Geert Wilders the right to post his film on LiveLeak.com and it is not our place to censor people based on an emotive response."

The website said that it did not endorse Wilders or his views, and added that several people working for the website found some of the messages in Wilders' film "personally offensive".

"That being said, our being offended is no reason to deny Mr Wilders the right to have his film seen. Pre-emptive censorship or a discriminatory policy towards freedom of speech are both things we oppose here on LiveLeak.com."

It continued: "A person has a simple, clear choice about whether to view this film ... If you click on media simply to be annoyed, it is pointless to blame others for your choice."

Despite pressure from The Hague not to release the movie, Wilders pushed ahead. Dutch officials fear a repeat of violent protests that erupted when European newspapers printed cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

Dutch news media reported that the Dutch cabinet has seen the film, but there was no immediate reaction from the government.

Liveleak.com is similar to the more popular YouTube, with an emphasis on current events, politics and reality-based footage, including images of war from around the world.