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| Havana gears up for huge concert | Havana gears up for huge concert |
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| Havana is preparing for the biggest open air concert since the 1959 revolution, featuring some 15 top Latin American, Spanish and Cuban performers. | Havana is preparing for the biggest open air concert since the 1959 revolution, featuring some 15 top Latin American, Spanish and Cuban performers. |
| Hundreds of thousands of Cubans are expected to attend the concert in Revolution Square in Havana. | Hundreds of thousands of Cubans are expected to attend the concert in Revolution Square in Havana. |
| Colombian singer Juanes, who has organised the event, has received death threats from Cuban-American opponents of the regime in Miami. | Colombian singer Juanes, who has organised the event, has received death threats from Cuban-American opponents of the regime in Miami. |
| But he has won support from dissidents within Cuba. | But he has won support from dissidents within Cuba. |
| More than 20 of Cuba's best-known political dissidents, in prison since 2003, issued a message of support for the concert earlier this month. | More than 20 of Cuba's best-known political dissidents, in prison since 2003, issued a message of support for the concert earlier this month. |
| While the critics have complained that Juanes is endorsing the island's communist system, the dissidents say the concert - which is called Peace without Borders - is an opportunity for reconciliation. | While the critics have complained that Juanes is endorsing the island's communist system, the dissidents say the concert - which is called Peace without Borders - is an opportunity for reconciliation. |
| During a break in rehearsals, Juanes said the show was about peace and tolerance, not politics. | During a break in rehearsals, Juanes said the show was about peace and tolerance, not politics. |
| "It's a message of peace, not only for Cuba. It's for the entire region," he said. | "It's a message of peace, not only for Cuba. It's for the entire region," he said. |
| He added that preparations for the concert had not been easy, but "we have all got over our fears". | He added that preparations for the concert had not been easy, but "we have all got over our fears". |
| As the BBC's Michael Voss reports from Havana, the location of the free concert is highly symbolic. | As the BBC's Michael Voss reports from Havana, the location of the free concert is highly symbolic. |
| The headquarters of the communist party is in Revolution Square, along with a giant metal sculpture of Che Guevara's head. | The headquarters of the communist party is in Revolution Square, along with a giant metal sculpture of Che Guevara's head. |
| The square was used by Fidel Castro used to give five-hour speeches, and is also where Pope John Paul II held a historic open air mass in 1998. | The square was used by Fidel Castro used to give five-hour speeches, and is also where Pope John Paul II held a historic open air mass in 1998. |
| Our correspondent says the concert will feature the kind of big-name Latin line up that the isolated, music loving island of Cuba could only dream about in the past. | Our correspondent says the concert will feature the kind of big-name Latin line up that the isolated, music loving island of Cuba could only dream about in the past. |
| Among the artists taking part on Sunday are Spain's Miguel Bose, Olga Tanon from Puerto Rico, the Cuban performers Silvio Rodriguez and Los Van Van. | Among the artists taking part on Sunday are Spain's Miguel Bose, Olga Tanon from Puerto Rico, the Cuban performers Silvio Rodriguez and Los Van Van. |
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