Concert off as Snoop Dogg arrested

RAPPER Snoop Dogg has had to cancel a gig as part of the Freedom Day celebrations in South Africa because he is being held in police custody in Britain.

The US star was due to play in Johannesburg last night in front of a crowd of thousands to celebrate the attainment of universal adult suffrage in South Africa.

However the rapper was released from police custody only yesterday afternoon after being arrested on Wednesday night following a disturbance at Heathrow airport.

The row broke out after his 30-strong entourage was refused entry to the British Airways first-class lounge at the airport's Terminal 1.

His party was then alleged to have moved to a duty-free shop where it was said they threw bottles of whisky to the floor and argued with staff.

Police were called and were escorting the group away from the scene when a further disturbance broke out.

Six men aged in their 30s, including Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, were arrested on charges of violent disorder and affray.

A spokesman for his record company Polydor said the 34-year-old was in transit from LA to Johannesburg before the row broke out.

According to his website he is scheduled to play two further gigs in South Africa one in Durban tomorrow and a third in Cape Town on Monday May 1.

The spokesman said it was unclear at this stage whether the two shows would go ahead.

Seven officers had minor injuries mainly cuts and bruises and one suffered a fracture to the hand.