Shakira to lead Colombian rallies for hostages’ freedom

Pop star Shakira is to lead nationwide demonstrations in her native Colombia today demanding the liberation of hundreds of hostages held by rebels in the jungle for years.Around 80 solidarity rallies are also planned in other cities around Latin America and the rest of the world, including one in Paris that included recently freed Franco-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) continues to detain an estimated 700 hostages. Up to 2,000 more are believed to be held by the National Liberation Army, another leftist rebel group.

Around five million people are expected to take part in demonstrations in some 1,000 towns and cities across Colombia.
The marches coincide with independence day celebrations in the southern town of Leticia, which are to be attended by President Alvaro Uribe and his guests, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Alan Garcia of Peru.

Shakira, Colombia’s world-famous pop icon, is to sing Colombia’s national anthem at the start of that commemoration before launching into a concert in support of the hostage liberation demonstration.

In the capital Bogota, more than 50,000 people dressed in white are expected to fill the central city square.