Hollywood screenwriters negotiations breakdown

LOS ANGELES - Hollywood producers said negotiations with striking writers broke down after four consecutive days of talks.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers' announcement Friday came after both sides traded barbs over the five-week strike that has sidelined many prime-time and late-night shows.

The alliance blamed the breakdown on what it called an ongoing union strategy to delay or derail talks.

The Writers Guild of America had no immediate comment.

Earlier in the day, the guild accused the alliance of dragging its heels in putting new proposals on the table and cited possible schemes to sink the talks.

The alliance denied the allegations and claimed the union had failed to respond to proposals regarding key issues of new-media compensation.

- AP