Lebanon has cancelled the Beitedeen and Baalbek festivals for a second year, because of the threat of attack from Israel, and the continuing violence from alleged Hariri-linked Al-Qaeda militants.

The organisers made the announcement just a day after 10,000 people flocked to an Enrique Igelsias concert in Damascus. The government was insisting there was no threat to Lebanon, and the events would go ahead.

Shakira was due to perform at Beitedeen. The Lebanese music festivals are the most renowned in the Arab world - many even went ahead during parts of the Civil War.