Obama's Half-brother declines role in Chinese film

Mark Ndesandjo, a half-brother of U.S. President Barack Obama, poses with a copy of his novel "Nairobi to Shenzhen" at the book's pre-launch ceremony in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on November 4, 2009.

U.S. President Barack Obama's half-brother has turned down an invitation to star in a Chinese gangster movie, saying he wants to focus on writing and charity.

Mark Ndesandjo, who recently published a novel and works as a consultant in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, told the Associated Press that the film "Let the Bullets Fly" is a "high quality and popular production," but he neither evaluated nor accepted the request to act in it.

Chinese media reported on Monday that Ndesandjo was offered a minor role to play a pastor in the film, which is being shot near Shenzhen by award-winning director-actor Jiang Wen.

With an all-star cast that includes Chow Yun-Fat and Ge You, "Let the Bullets Fly" is described by director Jiang Wen as a Chinese version of "Ocean's Eleven".

Mark Ndesandjo, son of Obama's late father and his third wife, relocated to Shenzhen in 2002 and lives a low-key life. He entered the limelight last month when he and his Chinese wife flew to Beijing to meet Obama, who was on his first state visit to China.