Latin star's sisters feared kidnapped

Thalia performed at the Latin American Grammy Awards

The family of Mexican singer-actress Thalia are said to be negotiating with a gang suspected of kidnapping the star's sisters.

Thalia's sisters, actress Laura Sodi and author Ernestina Sodi, disappeared in the early hours of Sunday morning after leaving a theatre in Mexico City and are believed to have been abducted.

Laura is famous in her own rights

It is thought that the kidnappers have contacted the family demanding a ransom, but the Mexican police have been unable to investigate the matter as the family have so far decided not to involve the police.

Thalia, a popular Latin American star, recently performed at the Latin American Grammys. She is married to Tommy Mottola the head of Sony Music.

According to local newspaper reports, witnesses saw two vehicles following the two women as they left the theatre where Laura had just been performing in a play.

Ambush

When the women stopped at a red light, the occupants of the vehicles ambushed them, smashing the windows and removing them from the car, witnesses said.

Police later found a car belonging to the sisters abandoned along a Mexico City highway. A sports utility vehicle that Laura Sodi had reported stolen six months ago was found nearby, the city's Attorney General, Bernardo Batiz, said.

But nonetheless Mr Batiz said the police have received no report from the sister's family on their whereabouts or those of their cars.

Correspondents say kidnappings are a frequent occurrence in Mexico and often the families do not report them as they fear corrupt officials may be involved with the abductors.

Laura Sodi, who uses the stage name Laura Zapata, is a successful actress in her own right. She has starred in dozens of Mexican soap operas.