Make Poverty History: Bono appeals

Thousands of fans at the sell-out U2 concerts in Croke Park during the weekend have signed up for the Make Poverty History campaign following an on-stage appeal from Bono.

The concerts, which drew to a close last night, had attracted 17,000 signatures from fans by yesterday afternoon. The final figure is expected to be well in excess of 20,000.

Dozens of fans of all ages lined the route to the stadium last night pleading for spare tickets for the final concert. The concert was delayed for a time due to long queues on the way into the stadium.

Tickets were being sold by touts for up to €250.

The U2 lead singer again displayed a special text number at last night's show encouraging fans to sign up to the campaign, which is seeking the cancellation of Third World debt and an end to unfair trading rules.

Those who singed up received a message that read: "Hi it's Bono. Thx 4ur txt . . . join the rally in Dublin on June 30th & go to www.makepovertyhistory.ie to be part of a generation that says no to extreme poverty."

The initiative began on the US leg of U2's current tour. More than 800,000 people have signed since April to build up pressure for change in Africa.

A Make Poverty History rally will begin in Parnell Square, Dublin, at 6.30pm on Thursday, and is expected to attract tens of thousands. The anti-poverty campaigners will march to Merrion Square, where a concert featuring The Hothouse Flowers, The Devlins, The Walls and Alpha States is due to begin at 7.15pm.

More than 40 organisations, development agencies and trade unions have pledged support for the event.

The rally will be addressed by trade union leaders, development organisations, campaigners and speakers from the developing world. RTÉ Liveline presenter Joe Duffy will preside.

The Dublin rally will increase pressure on the Government to put forward a "credible definite plan" to donate 0.7 per cent of GNP to overseas aid.