Sydney  - Supporters of Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer clashed with Chinese nationalists Saturday outside the Melbourne venue where an Australian-made documentary about her life was having its world premiere.

Kadeer was forced to enter the venue by a back door to avoid scuffles between those keen to see The 10 Conditions of Love and those who side with Beijing and say showing it at Australia's biggest film festival gives support to separatists.

The Chinese government accuses US-based Kadeer of instigating last month's ethnic violence in the Xinjiang region that left at least 197 dead.

The 62-year-old head of the World Uighur Congress spent six years in jail before going into exile in 2005 and becoming the leader of the mostly Muslim Uighur people.

A hacker attack last week forced the festival to abandon on-line ticket sales. Chinese directors have bowed to Beijing and withdrawn their work from the festival.

Festival director Richard Moore said the Chinese flag and anti-Kadeer slogans had defaced the official website but that he would be intimidated into pulling the documentary from the programme.

The Australian government has stressed that hers is a private visit and Kadeer won't be meeting any senior officials during her stay. This week she will travel to Canberra and make a televised speech at the National Press Club. (dpa)