Singer murdered after denying he was dead

MEXICO CITY, June 28 (Reuter) - Mexican singer Sergio Vega was murdered while on a national tour at the weekend, just hours after denying reports of his death, local media reported.

The 40-year-old singer, known as El Shaka, was driving his red Cadillac to a concert in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa on Saturday when his car was intercepted by unidentified shooters in a truck, reports said.

His murder came just hours after he told entertainment website La Oreja that online reports of his death were wrong.

"It's happened to me for years now, someone tells a radio station or a newspaper I've been killed, or suffered an accident," said Vega.

"And then I have to call my dear mum, who has heart trouble, to reassure her."

Fans posted condolences on Twitter after they learned of the death of the singer, who recently boosted his security following the killing of several Mexican musicians.

Musicians performing narcocorridos, or songs celebrating the lives of drug barons, have become the targets of rival drug gangs in Mexico with Mexican media reporting several such deaths in recent years.

(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Dean Goodman)