An unlikely trio were gathered under Moscow stars on Saturday evening. Just picture it: the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the French singer Mireille Mathieu, their faces lit by a bonfire and camera flashes as

We may never know whether Colonel Gaddafi had advance knowledge of Prime Minister Putin’s special treat for him.  But the VIP guest list for the Kremlin concert came as a complete surprise to French singer Mireille Mathieu.

Her astonishment can only have been multiplied when, after the performance in the lavish Kremlin concert hall, she was taken to have tea at a Bedouin tent in the palace grounds.

However, it was an offer too good to refuse. After all, it’s not every day you get to have tea and a chin wag with the leader of Libya and the Russian Prime Minister.

Revealing little of the encounter, Mireille Mathieu said it was a good opportunity to indulge her superstitious side.

“When you are in a place for the first time, you should certainly make a wish,” she said.

And who could blame her? Understandably, the chanson star wouldn't reveal her wish, or say whether the superstition was personal or a French custom.

Another mystery is how the tea was served: did the ceremony follow Russian, French or Libyan protocol? Again, we may never know. But since there have been no complaints so far, we can assume that everyone's thirst was satisfied. 

There were some concerns for the comfort of Prime Minister Putin in the Bedouin tent, as he seemed to be wearing fewer layers than his guests. Where the French singer wore a fur coat and Colonel Gaddafi was wrapped in warm Libyan blankets, the Russian Prime Minister had only a business suit to protect from the autumn chill. 
 
Nice as it was, the meeting could not last long. Mireille Mathieu was tired after the concert and the politicians probably had important state issues to deal with. Putin saw Mireille Mathieu off in person, offering her a seat in his car.

To see more on Gaddafi's visit to Moscow, please follow the link