Land mine victims hit by McCartney divorce

LONDON (Reuters) – Former Beatle Paul McCartney has pulled
out of a Los Angeles fundraiser for land mine victims because
of his impending divorce from wife Heather Mills, the charity
said on Thursday.

Adopt-A-Minefield (UK), the British branch of the land mine
charity which has both McCartney and Mills as patrons, said the
annual event, due to have been on October 11, had been
canceled.

In 2005, the event hosted by the couple raised a record $3
million, but the director of the charity played down media
reports that McCartney would donate a similar sum to make up
for his withdrawal.

“Heather and Paul remain patrons of the Adopt-A-Minefield
campaign,” said Keith Kelly, director of the British branch.

“Paul and Heather have developed the LA gala, our most
successful fundraising event, and as it is an event they both
hosted, given their separation Paul doesn’t feel he can perform
this year,” he told Reuters.

Kelly said that, as well as performing, McCartney attracted
other major acts to the gala each year, such as Neil Young.

“In the time since Heather and Paul separated, we haven’t
been able to secure people of similar caliber and the event has
had to be canceled.

Asked about a report in London’s Evening Standard newspaper
that McCartney would donate about $3 million to compensate for
his withdrawal, Kelly replied:

“There is no obligation for Paul to make up the shortfall,
but he remains patron and is passionate about the land mine
issue.

“He hasn’t as yet paid a check. Until something arrives you
don’t know what it’s going to be and what amount it is.”

McCartney’s spokesman was not immediately available for
comment.

McCartney, 64, and Mills, 38, announced their separation in
May and have begun divorce proceedings in an increasingly
acrimonious split. They married in 2002 and have a two-year-old
daughter, Beatrice.

Reuters/VNU