Shakira gives birth to son

Colombian pop star Shakira, 35, and Spanish footballer Gerard Pique, 25, on Tuesday confirmed the birth of their first child, a son, dpa reported.

"We are happy to announce the birth of Milan Pique Mebarak, son of Shakira Mebarak and Gerard Pique, born January 22nd at 9:36 pm, in Barcelona, Spain," the couple said on Twitter and Facebook.

Mother and child are "in perfect health," they added. The baby was already a member of FC Barcelona, Pique's football team, the text said.

Shakira was seen arriving earlier in the day at hospital by car, accompanied by Pique and a driver.

Shakira had asked for the baby to be born by Cesarean section. She also wanted an all-female medical team, according to the daily El Pais and other media.

Her obstetrician was the daughter of a doctor who had helped Spain's Princess Cristina give birth to her four children. Shakira made the medical team promise to keep all the details about the birth secret, reports said.

Towards the end of her pregnancy, however, she and Pique kept it in the headlines with pictures and comments published on social networking sites.

The name Milan means beloved, enthusiastic, or unification in Slav, Romance languages and in Sanskrit, Pique and Shakira said.

Shakira's parents and two of her siblings arrived in December in Barcelona, where she lives much of the time.

The singer has not appeared in public since January 14.