Arnie defends terror attack movie

Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger today defended his latest film, which shows him as a fireman whose family dies in a terrorist strike in America.

The film, Collateral Damage, has attracted criticism because of its parallels with the September 11 terror strikes and its release was postponed from October last year "out of respect for the families of the lost ones", he said.

Arriving in London to promote it, he said: "Whatever war or unrest it is, whatever terrorist attack, there's innocent people losing lives and this film focuses on that and what we should do about it, how we can stop the cycle of violence."

Terminator star Schwarzenegger said the film now had added relevance because of the World Trade Centre attacks and said it could have been criticised as unrealistic for having gone "too far" before the September 11 tragedy.

Asked whether it trivialised events in America, he said: "Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If that's what they feel, I understand."

The film, which opens in Britain on April 5, has topped the US box office, taking 15 million dollars (£10.5 million) in its opening weekend.