Streisand cancels Roman concert

Barbra Streisand has canceled her concert in Rome next month - a move that followed protests by Italian consumer groups angered by what they said were excessively high ticket prices.

Concert organizers indicated the decision was not connected to the outcry, saying that production delays had forced them to scrap the June 15th concert in the capital's Stadio Flaminio, what would have been the singer's first concert in Italy and the start of her European tour.

"We met with unexpected production delays," said a statement by tour promoter Michael Cohl.

Last week, consumer groups protested what they called the "absurd and shameful" ticket prices ranging from just under $200 to more than $1,200, calling on authorities to deny Barbara Streisand use of the 24,000-seat stadium.

The stadium "is public property and cannot be used for immoral deals that are shameful to a civilized country," the groups said in a statement.