NEW YORK (AFP) - Madonna (news - web sites) has pulled the US release of her new video, which contained images of transvestite soldiers, Iraqi children and a grenade being lobbed at a lookalike of US President George W Bush.


Madonna announced her decision Tuesday in a statement on her website, www.madonna.com, explaining that the video to accompany her "American Life" song had been made before the start of the US-led invasion of Iraq (news - web sites).
"I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time. Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for," the statement said.
"I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video," it added.
The US internet news website Drudge Report, which said it had a copy of the video, called it "by far the most controversial work ever made by the artist."
Among the scenes were images of stealth bombers and missile launches interspersed with flashes of the US flag, while Madonna herself is shown urinating on a toilet, Drudge Report said.
Images of mushroom clouds are mixed with the innocent faces of Iraqi children, and Madonna uses a strong expletive before she pulls the pin on a grenade and lobs it at a Bush lookalike.
"I have written a song and created a video which expresses my feelings about our culture and values, and the illusions of what many people believe is the American dream, the perfect life," Madonna said before her decision to pull the video in the United States.
The video was an expression of "my wish to find an alternative to violence, to war and destruction...It's me being ironic and tongue in cheek," she said.
"American Life" is the first single off Madonna's new album due for release later this month.

Oops...someone already posted this news item...my bad...