Madonna plays Moscow concert despite church objections

Madonna's Russian debutwent ahead Tuesday night with little incident, despite threats from religious protesters to disrupt the concert.

The pop superstar took the stage in Moscow's biggest stadium in front of an audienceof about 35,000 as part of her controversial Confessions tour.

European religious groups have objected to Madonna's use of religious imagery in her performance, particularly a mock crucifixion that ends the concert.

Russian Orthodox protesters were particularly angered and threatened to disrupt the concert.

But on Tuesday night, no disorder was reported, though 10 Orthodox activists were detained outside the stadium.

Other protesters prayed in small groups outside Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the main venue of the 1980 Summer Olympics. Some 7,000 police officers were scheduled to be in and around the stadium.

Priests had earlier urged the singer to cut the routine from her performance.

"We are not against Madonna; we are against her blasphemous acts during the concert," Rev. Sergei Zvonoryov said.

"All this is a parody on the crucifixion of Christ."

Madonna responded that she didn't think Jesus would be angry at her.

The audience of 35,000 was below the 50,000 expected to take in the show, the singer's first performance in Russia.

Even before the threat of protests, the Moscow concert had problems. The original date, Sept. 11, was cancelled after the Russian Orthodox Church demanded the singer push it back out of respect for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S. As well,it coincided with the Feast of St. John the Baptist.

The original venue also had to be switched becauseit was near two churches and police said they could not ensure security.

The Confessionstour began May 21 in Los Angeles and wraps up with two concerts in Osaka and Tokyo next week.