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Rio may cancel Live Earth gig
05/07/2007 09:42 - (SA)
Rio De Janeiro - Brazilian organisers of
the Rio de Janeiro leg of the Live Earth global concerts were
trying to convince authorities on Wednesday not to cancel the
Saturday show due to security concerns.
The Rio state prosecutor's office said earlier there were
not enough police to safeguard the climate change awareness
concert on Copacabana beach as all security efforts would be
concentrated on preparations for the Pan American Games,
starting on July 13.
Police have stepped up operations against drug gangs in
Rio's slums in the run-up to the Games.
Last week, they raided
a slum on the city outskirts, killing about 20 people after a
long siege of the area in which two dozen people had been
killed and more than 60 wounded since May.
On Wednesday, police and drug traffickers fought gun
battles in two slums, including one by the busy Avenida Brasil
thoroughfare. An officer and a bystander were wounded.
If late on Tuesday's court injunction suspending the show is
not overruled, it could spell a second cancellation in the Live
Earth series. The injunction can still be appealed in a higher
court, officials said.
'All necessary arrangements made'
Mondo Entretenimento, Live Earth's Brazilian promotion
company, said in a statement it was "working to guarantee the
realisation of this important international event."
Its spokesperson said the promoters were in meetings with
Rio state prosecutors who had obtained the court injunction.
Live Earth officials abroad did not have immediate comment.
The municipal RioTur tourism authority, which is involved
in the event organisation, said it and show producers had made
all necessary arrangements to provide security at the event and
were ready to meet any other official demands.
A giant beach stage in front of Rio's plush Copacabana
Palace hotel has already been erected.
Organisers said they were planning to use dozens of
observation towers and platforms as well as police cameras in
the security scheme for the event.
Istanbul's concert dropped
Eight cities are due to hold the concerts on Saturday,
aiming to raise awareness about global warming with
performances by stars including Madonna, Shakira and the
Beastie Boys.
Last month, Istanbul was dropped from the list cities set
to hold the concerts because of a lack of interest and security
concerns.
Ticket sales have been slow for most Live Earth shows
and organisers had to shift venues in Johannesburg in a bid to
improve sales.
Performers including Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell Williams,
Jorge Ben Jor and Macy Gray have been lined up to play on
Copacabana to an expected audience of one million people in the
only free, open-to-all event of the Live Earth series.
High murder rate
Rio will host 5 500 athletes from across North and South
America as well as an estimated 800 000 tourists for the Pan
American Games.
A cancellation would be embarrassing for city officials who
hope the events will showcase Rio's legendary charms instead of
exposing its rampant crime.
Rio has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with
a toll comparable to some war zones. At least 1 800 people were
killed in the first four months of 2007 in the metropolitan
area, official figures show.
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South Africa
