Rio may cancel Live Earth gig on safety worries

By Andrei Khalip

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian organizers 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 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 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.

Mondo Entretenimento, Live Earth's Brazilian promotion company, said in a statement it was "working to guarantee the realization of this important international event."

Its spokeswoman 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 organization, 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.