R&B battle at top of singles charts

By Jennifer Hill

LONDON (Reuters) - R&B singer Rihanna went straight in a number one in the pop charts on Sunday, knocking Beyonce and Shakira further down the top 10.

Rihanna clinched the top spot with her track "Umbrella" featuring rapper Jay-Z, according to the Official UK Charts Company, which compiles the weekly pop countdown.

Meanwhile, in the album charts, three new entries took the top spots.

American band Linkin Park took top place with their "Minutes to Midnight" album.

Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright was at number two with "Release the Stars", while Welsh rock band Funeral for a Friend went in at number three with "Tales Don't Tell Themselves".

Back in the singles charts, "Beautiful Liar", a duet by Beyonce and Shakira, slipped one place to third, while Maroon 5's "Make Me Wonder" moved up to second from 19.

Snow Patrol's "Signal Fire" was also a high climber, moving up to fourth from 17th.

California pop band Hellogoodbye rose to 5th place with "Here (In Your Arms)", New York hip hop group Gym Class Heroes slipped two places to sixth with "Cupid's Chokehold", and R&B singer Akon dropped to seven with "Don't Matter".