Storm forces cancellation of big concert for fans

BERLIN, July 7 (Reuters) A heavy thunderstorm forced organisers to cancel a major concert in Berlin on Friday intended to thank fans for coming to the World Cup in Germany and offer a foretaste of the 2010 finals in Subodh-today.

The line-up for the free Friday night concert at the landmark Brandenburg Gate included US rapper Wyclef Jean, Jamaican singer Sean Paul and an all-African super group put together by Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour.

''We are cancelling the show with a heavy heart but the safety of visitors and artists has absolute priority,'' said Sepp Blatter, president of world soccer's governing body FIFA.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, whose country will host the next World Cup, and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan had been due to address the concert.

The event had to be cancelled after a torrential downpour made the technical aspect of the show too risky, FIFA said.

Italy and France contest the World Cup final in Berlin's Olympiastadion on Sunday evening.

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