RIO DE JANEIRO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Live Earth concerts, scheduled in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, have been cancelled due to a shortage of security forces, Rio's Public Prosecution Office said on Wednesday.

    There are not enough law enforcement units to ensure proper security conditions for events like those concerts, since all forces available are preparing for the XV Pan American Games, which the city will host on July 13-29, according to a spokesperson for the office.

    "We got a statement from the State Police saying that they do not rely on enough personnel to ensure the public's security," said prosecutor Denise Tarin, who requested a court injunction on the cancellation.

    She said the Police's General Staff Chief, Samuel Dionisio, was against the concerts on Copacabana Beach, as all cops have been drafted exclusively for the Pan Am Games since Tuesday.

    Mondo Entretenimento, the firm in charge of organizing the concerts in Rio, announced on Wednesday that it will try to annul the injunction as soon as possible.

    Riotur, the government's tourism enterprise and a partner in the organization of the concerts in the city, said it has held meetings with the Prosecution Office, and that all security requirements have been fulfilled.

    The number of participants in the concerts is estimated at 700,000, according to the organizers.

    Live Earth will be held in eight cities around the world simultaneously, and will feature stars like Madonna, the Black Eyed Peas and The Police.

    In Rio, international singers such as Lenny Kravitz and Macy Gray have confirmed their intention to participate, as well as local stars like Xuxa and Jorge Benjor.

    However, some Brazilian performers invited to the event have turned down the invitation in the last minute, including singer Ivete Sangalo.

    The movement for the "concerts for a climate in crisis" was led by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who was criticized for using the global warming issue for political purposes.

    Additionally, Istanbul cancelled its Live Earth event last week, due to the lack of interest by local sponsors, and also in order to avoid security problems.