SEAN PENN - PENN AND BING GO TO WAR

LATEST: Film star SEAN PENN is suing producer STEVE BING for allegedly dropping him from a movie because of his anti-war stance.

The CARLITO'S WAY actor is seeking $10 million (GBP6.2 million) in damages from Bing, the father of LIZ HURLEY's young son DAMIAN.

Bing is counter-suing Penn for $15 million (GBP9.3 million), accusing him of trying to extort money for a role in WHY MEN SHOULDN'T MARRY, claiming the actor had never accepted the part. Penn will attempt to get Bing's lawsuit dismissed at a hearing on 18 June.

Penn visited Iraq in December 2002 to gain enough knowledge to become a vociferous anti-war campaigner. But Bing claims Penn went too far when he was photographed standing in front of pictures of SADDAM HUSSEIN as the US prepared to go to war.

The lawsuit says, "Penn crossed over a bright line into unprotected speech when he publicly advocated the violent overthrow of the United States Government."

The motion also accuses Penn of violating "any standard of decency by posing with portraits of Saddam Hussein and meeting with Hussein's henchman TARIQ AZIZ" during his Iraqi visit.

Penn's lawsuit dismissed the argument as "nonsense".

Court papers say, "There is no authority supporting arguments that travelling to Iraq, being photographed with a picture of Saddam Hussein in the background, or meeting Tariq Aziz, waives wrongful termination or any other kinds of claims."