Live 8 gets the world together

Thousands of people flooded London's Hyde Park for the epic Live 8 music extravaganzas.

Thousands of people flooded London's Hyde Park for the centrepiece of Saturday's epic Live 8 music extravaganzas, keen to see artists such as Pink Floyd and Madonna but also rallying behind Africa's poor.

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A few drops of rain failed to dampen spirits ahead of showtime at 2:00 pm (1300 GMT), when more than 200,000 people were to enjoy the largest leg of the 10-concert marathon, itself the biggest music event the world as ever seen.

Billions more were likely to watch the gig on television, also watching coverage from sister shows in Berlin, Johannesburg, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Philadelphia, Tokyo and Barrie, Canada. There will additionally be an Africa-theme event in southwest England.

"It is a once in a life time opportunity seeing all these bands performing for what may be the last time, and as well for the good cause that they are supporting," said Johan Senckal, 29, a security guard living in London.

"I am looking forward to seeing U2, Coldplay and of course Pink Floyd," the famous British group reforming especially for the event, he told AFP while queuing outside the park.

As he and the thousands of others waited, an army of helpers directed the largely young crowd to the correct gates, overseen by a heavy police presence, with 1,000 officers scheduled to be on duty at the park.

Bob Geldof, the Irish rocker-turned-campaigner behind the event, hopes to use Live 8 to focus efforts into pressuring the Group of Eight (G8) leaders to strike a deal on debt, aid and trade for Africa at a summit in Scotland on July 6-8.

As it is not a charity event, tickets for the London concert were free, with 150,000 people winning them through a mobile phone text lottery and competitions. A further 55,000 were given passes to watch the performance on giant screens in the park.

Despite the organisers' best efforts, however, opportunists have been selling tickets to people desperate to get in.

Among these was Rachel Levy, 29, who paid 320 pounds (475 euros, 565 dollars) for two passes sold via the Internet, despite her moral qualms.

"As much as I fully disapprove what people are doing -- they are going to rot in hell for it -- it is a means for me to be here and pledge my support," said Levy, who works for a media company in London, and came with seven friends, three of whom also had to buy their entrance.

"I am here firstly because of the acts but secondly, all of us are South African, so I am also here for the cause," she said.

"I believe it is really important to be here to pledge your support and help Africa out. I even bought my flag," Levy added, showing a South African flag wrapped around her waist.

Fans travelled from all over the country, and also some from overseas, to watch the London gala, which will feature almost 30 acts and double acts by icons such as Madonna and Paul McCartney as well as younger crowd pullers like Coldplay and Joss Stone.

At 10:30 am (0930 GMT), U2 could be heard practising their smash hit "Beautiful Day" as engineers and artists made their final sound checks.

Paul McCartney and U2 were scheduled to launch the London gig, which runs until about 9:30 pm (2030 GMT), with Beatles classic "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

The song begins with the words: "It was 20 years ago today...", a reference to the original Live Aid shows Geldof organised in 1985 for African famine relief.

Geldof has urged fans to travel to Edinburgh afterwards to take part in a series of rallies during the G8 summit at the nearby resort of Gleneagles, although it was unclear how many would heed his call or simply slink off home.

I can't go to Edinburgh as I have got work next week," security guard Senckal admitted.