Elton John hailed the introduction of civil partnerships in Britain that will allow him to 'marry' his male partner, and issued a call to fight against homophobia worldwide.

Elton and David will have their relationship legally recognised in a ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor, west of London, on December 21, 2005, the day the new law comes into force in England and Wales.

Elton told The Observer newspaper that the civil ceremony giving the couple rights virtually equal to married heterosexual couples would be "the happiest day of my life".

But he added: "I will be thinking, however, about those in many countries less fortunate than we are. In many countries, having a same-sex partner is still outlawed."

A long-standing supporter of human rights group Amnesty International, Elton criticised violence against gay men and women in Jamaica and said it showed how important it was for governments and laws to set a good example.