Former Beatle On Form In Ukraine

Tens of thousands of people have braved heavy rain and thunder to see Sir Paul McCartney perform in a charity concert in Ukraine. Sir Paul performs in rainy gig. The open-air show was billed as the biggest concert ever in the former Soviet republic. After a delay of half an hour because of the weather, the ex-Beatle came out on to the stage at Kiev's Independence Square and greeted the crowd in Ukrainian. Sir Paul, who turns 66 next week, launched straight into his set with the classic Drive My Car. The gig was broadcast live on national television and giant screens set up in five other Ukrainian cities. During the build-up, fans sang Beatles songs in a live TV link-up with the capital. The square where Macca played was the site of the Orange Revolution in 2004, when peaceful mass protests overturned a fraudulent election and brought a pro-Western opposition leader to power. The money raised from the concert will be spent on equipment for the children's department of Ukraine's National Cancer Institute. Many children are forced to go abroad for treatment because Ukraine lacks the necessary equipment. The concert itself was free but the organisers asked for donations from the Ukrainian business community.