Colombian rocker Juanes makes Cuba concert political after all

Colombia's Juanes holds a Cuban flag as he performs during the "Peace Without Borders" concert at the Revolution square in Havana, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. A crowd flocked to sprawling Revolution Plaza for the concert, headlined by Juanes, an event criticized by some Cuban-Americans who say the performers are lending support to the island's communist government simply by showing up. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

Colombian Latin pop rocker Juanes headlined a controversial “Peace Without Borders” concert Sunday in Havana’s Plaza de la Revolución, ending the concert with shouts of "Cuba libre! Cuba libre!'' (Free Cuba!), then chanting, "One Cuban family! One Cuban family!''

Still, there was enough ambiguity in that message to leave some wondering whether or not he was calling for the overthrow of the Castro regime or calling on other countries not to meddle in Cuba.

The concert attracted a crowd estimated at 1 million. Juanes helped organize the event and was criticized for agreeing to share the stage with pro-Castro government artists, although political messages supposedly were not to be delivered. The event featured 15 acts from six different nations.

"I hope that all of the young people in the United States, in Miami, everywhere, lose their fear and change hate for love,'' Juanes told the audience, in a message that could be interpreted as calling for an end to the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba. The embargo historically has enjoyed widespread support among the Cuban exile community in the United States, primarily based in South Florida.

Juanes, 37, has sold more than 10 million recordings and has won 17 Latin Grammy awards.