Saudi Arabia has threatened to block YouTube in the kingdom if Google does not respond to a request to deny access to an anti-Islam film produced in the US, media reported today.

“Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission has ordered host companies in the Kingdom to block this movie from Internet users and has also requested Google to block all YouTube links carrying the film,” the official SPA news agency reported.

“If this request is not met, the commission will block YouTube altogether,” SPA said, also quoting the Saudi telecoms as urging citizens to report any links through which the film can be viewed.

At least 30 people have died so far in unrest connected to the film in over 20 countries.

Among those killed were the US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other Americans in an attack last week on the US consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi.

Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest religious sites, on Thursday condemned the American film but also denounced the deadly attacks in reaction to it.

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh have blocked access to YouTube after the video-sharing Web site failed to take down the film, believed to have been produced by a small group of extremist Christians in the US.

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Yemen have ordered blocking access to all Web sites carrying the video.

Google has denied access to the videos in Malaysia, Indonesia, Libya, Egypt and India.

And the Russian communications minister today warned that his country could follow suit.

“It sounds like a joke, but because of this video... all of YouTube could be blocked throughout Russia,” minister Nikolai Nikiforov wrote on Twitter, about the anti—Islam film.

“If there is a court decision and YouTube does not take off the video, then access will be limited.”

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