ALEJANDRO SANZ - VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT LIFTS BAN ON SANZ

VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT LIFTS BAN ON SANZ

Spanish singer ALEJANDRO SANZ has been given a pass to perform in Venezuela after country officials cancelled his November (07) concert over negative comments he made about President HUGO CHAVEZ. Sanz was slated to perform at Poliedro de Caracas in the capital on 1 November (07), but government critics pulled the plug on the concert after the singer confessed, "I don't like (Chavez)" in a 2004 interview. Promoters lobbied culture officials in Caracas and now Sanz's date has been rescheduled for St. Valentine's Day (14Feb08). A venue is still to be decided. Chavez announced that foreign critics of him and his government would not be allowed to stay in Venezuela earlier this year (07).