Stone Facing China Film Ban

LATEST: SHARON STONE has come under attack from officials in China for suggesting the country's recent earthquake was caused by "karma" - with a leading cinema chain threatening to ban her films.

The outspoken actress was talking to a Chinese media outlet on Thursday (26May08) when she linked the recent disaster, which left more than 67,000 people dead, to China's recent treatment of Tibetans.

And her remarks have caused outrage in the country - China's biggest cinema company has threatened to ban all of her future films and shopkeepers have been seen removing advertising posters featuring the actress from their windows.

Ng See-Yuen, founder of the cinema chain UWE and chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, described Stone's remarks as "inappropriate" and said actors should not bring personal politics to bear on a humanitarian crisis.

Stone's comments come after Chinese security forces attacked Tibetan monks and other ethnic Tibetans after a peaceful independence rally in March (08) turned violent.

The protests marked the annual anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, which has been in place since 1951.

The violent incident, which left at least 16 people dead, prompted many countries to boycott part or all of the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics in China later this summer (08).