FIRST OFF . . .

Despite official protests from several Costa Rican religious groups--who claimed the Amnesty International “Human Rights Now!” concert features “satanic music”--the show went off Tuesday night without any unpleasantnesses in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, the human rights organization reported Wednesday. A crowd of about 40,000 braved heavy rains to hear Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman and Senegalese musician Youssou N’Dour. Springsteen asked the audience to “fight for the respect of human rights around the world.” About 300 Panamanian concertgoers who bused in for the show chanted briefly against Panamanian strongman Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega. Authorities reported no major disturbances during the marathon concert. Barry Roberts, chief organizer of the San Jose concert, said 150 private detectives were hired to monitor the crowd.