Mel takes up arms

Mel Gibson

Actor-director Mel Gibson has criticised the war in Iraq while promoting his new film, Apocalypto, at a Texas film festival.

Gibson, 50, drew parallels between the collapsing Mayan civilisation depicted in the movie and the situation in the US.

"The precursors to a civilisation that's going under are the same, time and time again," Gibson said. "What's human sacrifice if not sending guys off to Iraq for no reason?"