Distributors of the popular US anti-war documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" on Friday accused the US Army of stonewalling efforts to show the film at military bases.

The Fellowship Adventure Group, IFC Films and Lions Gate Films said the organization in charge of booking films for 160 US military base theaters was obviously stonewalling because the film is anti-war themed.

"We have made all requested materials available to them, but unfortunately, a commitment to show the film has not been made," a Lions Gate spokeswoman said.

They noted that the army usually quickly booked a film that has been very successful at the box office. "Fahrenheit 9/11," made by Oscar-winning director Michael Moore, has grossed over 113 million US dollars so far at domestic box offices.

The movie strongly attacked President George W. Bush's drive to war in Iraq, and it was critical of the conduct of some US soldiers in Iraq although it mostly depicts the US military in a positive way.

But the organization that orders films for the bases countered that it was the distributors had caused the problem.

Judd Anstey, public affairs specialist for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service which books movies for military base theaters, denied it is boycotting the film because of its anti-war nature, adding that it makes decision solely based on business.

The time between when "Fahrenheit 9/11" would be played in base theaters and when it would be sold on DVD was too short to allow it to make money, Anstey said.

He said it was only about a week ago that he was told "Fahrenheit 9/11" would be available to the bases by Aug. 16, while the DVD release was reportedly set on Oct. 5.

But Anstey added that his organization will stock base stores with the film's DVDs when they are released.

Source: Xinhua