LIVE 8 - LIVE 8 WITHOUT SPONSORS IN BERLIN

The organisers of Germany's LIVE 8 have hit out at the local Berlin government and big business for failing to support the anti-poverty music extravaganza.

The world will be watching big names, including BRIAN WILSON, CHRIS DE BURGH and GREEN DAY, perform in front of the German capital's Siegessaule on 2 July (05), with simultaneous concerts being held in London, Johannesburg, Paris, Rome, Philadelphia, Tokyo and Barrie, Canada.

Promoter MAREK LIEBERBERG is highly concerned that after approaching 50 huge German companies, not one offered to sponsor the high-profile gig.

Criticising the small concert venue the government have given permission for, Lieberberg predicts a "huge disgrace". With the current venue, the crowd will be forced to clamber in a long queue in front of the "most absurd concert-area of the world", which is only 24 metres (78 feet) wide and 1.5 kilometres (9.3 miles) long.

Lieberberg admits he regrets not asking other cities such as Frankfurt or Munich, believing they would be more accommodating.