East Timor invites U2 to party

Tiny East Timor has invited Irish rock group U2 and country music star Garth Brooks to perform at independence celebrations on May 20 next year.

Acting foreign minister Jose Ramos-Horta said today that he hoped the bands would agree to take part in the creation of the world’s newest nation.

East Timor’s people voted to split from Indonesia in 1999 and are now being administered by the United Nations.