The Dutch EU constitution "no" vote is fueled by anger at the country's leaders, notably over the killings of Pim Fortuyn and Theo Van Gogh, a lawmaker with controversial views on Islam said Wednesday.

Liberal Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who has been threatened due to her views and links to the late filmmaker Van Gogh, said Dutch people were not against the European Union, despite their likely rejection of the bloc's constitution.

"They are not really saying 'no' to Europe. They are all saying 'yes' to Europe, but they are very displeased with the political elite," she said after talks in Brussels with EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini.

She cited the killing of anti-immigrant politician Fortuyn in May 2002 and the slaying of Van Gogh last November as reasons behind the discontent. Somali-born Hirsi Ali is known for her criticism of Islam and wrote the screenplay for Van Gogh's film "Submission".

"Citizens feel that the national political elite has not responded well enough to these crises. They're not saying 'no' to Europe, they're saying 'no' to the record of government.

"What the government should have done is at least been honest with the citizens and especially when Theo Van Gogh was killed that they were not really paying attention," she added.

She was speaking as Dutch voters cast their ballots in a referendum expected to deliver a second blow to the EU's new constitution, three days after France rejected it, throwing the 25-nation bloc into turmoil.

Frattini said that EU leaders must respond to the "no" votes. "It's very important to react ... in the case of a 'no' vote in the Netherlands," he said. "It's important to respond to citizens' demands."