Stars line up for Mandela birthday concert

One of the biggest and most glamorous birthday parties ever will take place in London as stars join Nelson Mandela for his 90th birthday concert.

Performers including Amy Winehouse, Queen and Paul Rodgers and Leona Lewis will take to the stage in Hyde Park and will play to a crowd of 46,664 people - the same figure as Mr Mandela's prison number.

The concert also boasts Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, Sugababes and Razorlight, along with a host of Africa's most highly-regarded artists including Johnny Clegg, Soweto Gospel Choir and Papa Wemba.

Winehouse, whose place in the concert was thrown into doubt when she was treated in hospital just days ago for the lung disease emphysema, could be the highlight of the night.

She is being tipped to be performing a version of the song 'Free Nelson Mandela', with its composer Jerry Dammers.

It is understood she has been belting out the song, which became a banner for the anti-apartheid movement in UK, in rehearsals.

Dammers was one of the organisers of Artists Against Apartheid and Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday concert which took place in London 20 years ago.

He is making a "special appearance", according to organisers.

Also joining the celebrations are multi-million selling classical pop singer Josh Groban and folk rock singer Joan Baez.

Proceeds from the three and-a-half hour concert will benefit Mr Mandela's HIV Aids charity 46664 which he founded in 2002.