Elton John gives Kiev HIV concert

Elton John's Aids foundation already funds projects in UkraineElton John has given a free concert in the main square of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, to promote HIV-Aids awareness.
President Viktor Yushchenko and other leading politicians were among the 200,000 people attending the show.
Ukraine has one of the highest HIV infection rates in Europe with a new case every 10 minutes, according to Ukraine's Anti-Aids Foundation.
The organisers said they hope the UK star's performance will help reduce ignorance surrounding the disease.
The free, open-air concert, which was broadcast live on Ukrainian TV, was the biggest ever seen in Ukraine.
The event's slogan was "Stop Aids before it stops us" and Elton John told the crowd that he would do all he could to help Ukraine in its battle against the disease.
His Aids foundation already funds 23 HIV-Aids projects in Ukraine and he said that the concert would allow them to do even more.
Before the show free condoms were handed out along with leaflets on HIV testing and counselling centres.
Boycott call
A religious group had urged Ukrainians to boycott the event, describing it as blasphemous and accusing Elton John of trying to promote a gay lifestyle.
Despite the Western outlook of Ukraine's leader, it is a conservative and predominantly Orthodox Christian country, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in Kiev says.
Even in the capital, very few men are openly gay, while lesbians are virtually invisible, our correspondent says.
An estimated 400,000 people are HIV-positive in Ukraine and it is believed that gay men make up only a small percentage of that figure.
Experts say that the disease, which was initially spread by drug-users, is now becoming widespread and that within the next decade one in 50 people in Ukraine could be HIV-positive.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (AP) -- Half of the sextuplets born prematurely to a Minnesota couple have now died, while the others remained in critical condition, hospital officials said Saturday.
A third boy, Lincoln Sean Morrison, died Friday. Two of his brothers, Tryg and Bennet, died earlier in the week.
The four boys and two girls were born last Sunday about 4½ months early at a Minneapolis hospital. Doctors had advised the couple to selectively reduce the number of viable fetuses to two, but they declined.
Parents Ryan and Brianna Morrison released a statement saying it has been "a difficult week" for them, and they thanked everyone for their prayers and support.
"We continue to trust in the Lord and are hopeful for a good outcome for Cadence, Lucia and Sylas," the statement said.
Hospital officials said no further information would be released.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material

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