Arts festival faces exodus for dropping Palestinian author

SYDNEY, Jan 12 (AFP): Australia's leading Adelaide Festival is battling a slew of artist withdrawals and board resignations after disinviting a Palestinian-Australian author citing "cultural sensitivities" raised by the Bondi Beach shooting.

Scores of artists have reportedly torn up their invitations, several board members-including the festival chair-have quit, and the blocked author's lawyers have demanded an explanation.

Australia's premier annual cultural event, which lures artists from around the world, unleashed the storm last week when it told Randa Abdel-Fattah it did not "wish to proceed" with her appearance at its Writers' Week.

"Whilst we do not suggest in any way that Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah or her writings have any connection with the tragedy at Bondi, given her past statements we have formed the view that it would not be culturally sensitive to continue to program her at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi," it said in a statement.