Singer Thalia urges end to terror

Latin pop star Thalia has called for an end to terrorism in Mexico after returning to the country following the kidnapping of her two sisters.

Thalia spent eight months in exile in the US after sisters Laura Zapata and Ernestina Sodi were kidnapped as they left a theatre in Mexico City in September last year. Both were later released unhurt.

Thalia has been surrounded by a platoon of bodyguards since her arrival in Mexico on Friday amid fears she could also be a target of criminals.

On her return the 30-year-old singer called for Mexico to become "more united and clean of terrorism, if not from all filth".

She told the daily newspaper Reforma: "Terrorism is not only to attack airplanes and buildings, or cause wars, but to agitate against the integrity, calm and social peace of the nation."

Mexico has one of the world's worst kidnapping problems - believed to be second only to that of Colombia.

The nation has a thriving soap opera and music industry, with its drama series translated and broadcast around the world.

Many of its singers are attempting to broaden their appeal beyond their Spanish-speaking fans.

Thalia, a star of TV soaps as Marimar and Rosalinda, is married to Tommy Mottola, the US-based former chairman of Sony Music.