Shakira Separates From Boyfriend Of 11 Years

But Columbian pop star says she and Antonio de la Rua view split as 'temporary.'
By Nuzhat Naoreen

<P>With Valentine's Day a little more than a month away, the list of celebrity splits keeps on growing.</P><P>In a post on her <a href="http://www.shakira.com/news/title/france-11011" target="_blank">blog</a>, Shakira announced on Monday that she and her boyfriend of nearly 11 years, Antonio de la R&#250;a, are taking a break. While rumors of wedding bells have emerged about the couple in the past, the singer confirmed they have been separated since last August but chose to keep the news under wraps.</P><P>"We made a mutual decision to take time apart from our romantic relationship," Shakira wrote in her post. "Throughout this time we have continued to work together hand in hand, have remained close and have kept the details absolutely private until now."</P><P>The announcement comes fresh on the heels of other long-term celebrity couples calling it quits, including <a href="/news/articles/1649757/courteney-cox-david-arquette-separate.jhtml">Courteney Cox and David Arquette</a>, who separated last year after 11 years of marriage, and <a href="/news/articles/1655153/mila-kunis-macaulay-culkin-split.jhtml">Mila Kunis and Macaulay Culkin</a>, who ended their nine-year relationship earlier this month.</P><P>Shakira added that she and de la R&#250;a, who is a lawyer and the son of former Argentine president Fernando de la R&#250;a, "view this period of separation as temporary," explaining that they would continue to work together.</P><P>"Antonio continues to oversee and conduct my business and career interests as he has always done," she said. "We move forward as partners, developing projects together, working hand in hand and in close communication."</P><P>The singer also noted that the two are an "exceptional couple and partners," and stressed that the separation was amicable. "Our friendship and understanding of one another is unwavering and indestructible," she said.</P>

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Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655707/shakira-separates-from-boyfriend-11-years.jhtml

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