Pitt skips Cannes, says birth 'imminent'

Dad-to-be Brad Pitt gets saddled with the kids--and loves every minute. The actor went on a fun bike ride with partner Angelina Jolie's adopted children in Africa. With 16-month-old Zahara strapped safely to his back he watched with pride as Maddox, age four, rode next to him on a tiny bike with [training wheels] and a red crash helmet. Brad, 42, is in Namibia with Angelina, 30, who is due to give birth to their first child together any day now. But despite the nervous wait he seemed totally relaxed as he cycled in the bright sun.

PARIS - Brad Pitt sent an e-mail to the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday saying he was unable to attend because of the "imminent arrival" of his new baby.

Henri Behar, who moderates Cannes' news conferences, read a message from Pitt, who has been in Namibia with his "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" co-star, Angelina Jolie, awaiting the birth of the couple's first child.

"With the imminent arrival of the newest addition to our family, I am unable to join Alejandro, Cate, Gael and the rest of the cast and crew in introducing" his new film, "Babel," the 42-year-old actor said in the message.

"I am tremendously proud of `Babel' and want to congratulate everyone involved for this great achievement," Pitt said.

In "Babel," directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Pitt plays a husband and father trying to cope with a crisis on vacation in Morocco. Cate Blanchett plays Pitt's wife, and the film also stars Gael Garcia Bernal.

Jolie's children, Maddox and Zahara, have legally had their surname changed to Jolie-Pitt.