Bob Geldof - Geldof Live Aid Weapons Claims

BOB GELDOF has furiously denied allegations from a former rebel commander in Ethiopia, who claimed money raised from the rocker's 1985 Live Aid concerts was used to buy weapons instead of food.

The ex Boomtown Rats star brought together famous artists from across the world for a series of shows that collected money for famine relief efforts in Ethiopia.

The event raised more than $240 million (£150 million) to help impoverished people in the African nation.

But Aregawi Berhe, a former member of the country's Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, has claimed most of the money was divided up by rebel army leader Meles Zenawi - who is now Ethiopia's prime minister - and used to arm rebel militants in the country.

He told a BBC investigation, "We were using aid money to buy arms through secondary means. In 1985, when Tigray was hit by the terrible famine, aid money was flowing.

"I remember Meles Zenawi suggesting that 50 per cent of that money should go to TPLF (Tigray People's Liberation Front) activities, 45 per cent should go to MLLT (Marxist-Leninist League of Tigray) organising and 5 per cent to support the victims."

But Geldof is adamant the claims aren't true. He says, "We are talking about a disgruntled, exiled general.

"The essence of the report also is not just about Live Aid. It's that all monies going into Tigray - that would be Oxfam, Save the Children, UNICEF and Christian Aid - somehow, we were all duped and gulled. And that's simply not the case. It just didn't happen."