French first lady to sing for Mandela

Carla Bruni-Sarokzy will lead a glittering line-up of stars at a concert in New York to mark Nelson Mandela's birthday, in what will be her first public show since becoming France's first lady.

Carla Bruni-Sarokzy will lead a glittering line-up of stars at a concert here to mark Nelson Mandela's birthday, in what will be her first public show since becoming France's first lady.

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Bruni-Sarkozy, a model-turned-musician, will perform for the first time in public since marrying French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the concert at Radio City Music Hall in Madison Square Garden.

The event, which also stars Stevie Wonder and soul queen Aretha Franklin, ends a week of celebrations for the 91st birthday of the former South African president.

"Mr Mandela is an iconic statesman whose sacrifice and leadership has had an enormous impact on humanity," the organizers said in a statement.

The concert aims to raise funds for Campaign 46664, named after Mandela's former prisoner number when he was jailed for 27 years under the South African apartheid regime before becoming the country's first black president in 1994.

Other stars to take part on Saturday will include Hollywood stars Forest Whitaker, Susan Sarandon and Matt Damon, the organisers said.