Cruise hits back at minister

Tom Cruise has reacted angrily to suggestions by tourism minister Kim Howells that he is "too chicken to fly". The minister claimed fear of the terrorist threat had stopped Cruise, and other stars attending the Cannes Film Festival.

But Cruise today described the comments as rubbish and blamed his absence on "work commitments".

Cruise's publicist said the actor was in New Zealand filming. "It's pretty hard to be in two places at the same time," she said.