SHAKIRA HOLDS CONCERT TO PROMPT HOSTAGE RELEASE.

Pop superstar SHAKIRA will vocalise her effort to free hostages held by a Colombian rebel group - when she performs in her native country on Sunday (20Jul08). The sexy singer met with recently-released FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) captive Ingrid Betancourt - a former Colombian presidential candidate - on Wednesday (16Jul08) to raise awareness of her plight.

Shakira will join Colombian pop star Carlos Vives for the Independence Day concert.The event is aimed at pressuring FARC - recognised as a terrorist group by the Colombian government - to release its estimated 700 prisoners.