RICKY MARTIN - MARTIN DEFENDS OBSCENE GESTURE

LATEST: Singer RICKY MARTIN has defended his actions at a recent concert where he stuck up his middle finger while singing about US President GEORGE W. BUSH. Martin sang and danced with Bush at his 2001 Inaugural Ball, but changed his opinion about the President after the war in Iraq. The 35-year-old made the obscene gesture last Friday (9FEB07) at a concert in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which prompted cheers from thousands of fans. Martin sang the president's name in his song ASIGNATURA PENDIENTE, which includes the words, "a photo with Bush." Yesterday (15FEB07), he repeated his criticism of the Iraq war and explained his position on Bush saying, "My convictions of peace and life go beyond any government and political agenda and as long as I have a voice onstage and offstage, I will always condemn war and those who promulgate it."