THE HAGUE, 01/04/08 - Employers association VNO-NCW considers MP Geert Wilders must shoulder the damages in case his Koran film 'Fitna' triggers a boycott by Arab countries.

Should it come to a boycott, whether Wilders can be held liable will be investigated, said VNO-NCW chairman Bernard Wientjes in an interview in Het Financieele Dagblad. "I do not know how rich Geert Wilders is, or how well he is insured. But should there be a boycott, we will investigate whether it is possible for us to hold him liable."

"If it comes to a boycott, this will quickly lead to damages due to the Netherlands' export position. Companies like Shell, Philips and Unilever are easy recognisable as Dutch," Wientjes predicted.