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Jackson's former wife 'undecided' Jackson service set for Tuesday
(about 6 hours later)
The late Michael Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, is undecided over whether to fight for custody of their two children, her lawyer has said. A memorial service for Michael Jackson will be held on Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles where he had been rehearsing for his London concerts.
Her lawyer issued the statement after media reports that Ms Rowe had vowed to fight for custody of the two children she had with the late pop icon. His family announced the event as concert promoters AEG Live released a video of the singer rehearsing for the O2 gigs two days before his death.
"I want my children," Ms Rowe said in an interview with the NBC TV network. Some 11,000 free tickets will be made available for the service.
Michael Jackson's family has announced a memorial service will be held next Tuesday in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, a lawyer for Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe says she is undecided about whether to fight for custody.
Some 11,000 free tickets will be made available for the event, which will start at 1000 (1700 GMT) in the city's Staples Center arena. We have enough audio to make two live albums, and he's never done a live album Randy PhillipsAEG Live class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8131668.stm">Jackson death 'surreal' - Jones
Meanwhile footage of Jackson on stage days before he died has been released. Tuesday's memorial service will start at 1000 (1700 GMT).
Film of the star recorded on 23 June - two days prior to his death - shows him rehearsing a routine at the Staples Center for a series of UK comeback concerts which had been planned for this month. Footage of Jackson, recorded on 23 June, shows the star singing and dancing as he performed his hit They Don't Really Care About Us - incorporating elements of History and She Drives Me Wild.
Jackson, who was 50, died after suffering heart failure at his Los Angeles home last Thursday. The star was rehearsing for a 50-date residency at the O2.
His mother, Katherine, has been granted temporary custody of his children. Randy Phillips, president of AEG Live, which also owns the Staples Center, said there were more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage which could be turned into a film and live albums.
Advertisement "We have enough audio to make two live albums, and he's never done a live album," he added.
Footage of Michael Jackson rehearsing, courtesy AEG Live "This is really the last great work of a 21st century genius."
Tests Hearing delayed
In a 90-minute telephone interview, Ms Rowe said she was prepared to undergo DNA testing to prove she was the children's biological mother. Meanwhile, Ms Rowe has won a delay in a custody hearing while she decides if she wants to raise Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, known as Prince Michael, 12, and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11.
She is the mother of Prince Michael, 12, and Paris Michael Katherine, 11. The singer's youngest son - seven-year-old Prince Michael II - was born to a surrogate mother whose identity has never been revealed.
A third child, Prince Michael II, 7, has a surrogate mother. Debbie Rowe was married to Jackson for three years
Ms Rowe said she would seek a restraining order to keep Jackson's father, Joe, away from them, the channel's website reported. Jackson's will asks for his mother, Katherine, 79, to get permanent custody of all three children.
"I am stepping up, I have to," she said. A judge has now delayed a guardianship hearing - scheduled for Monday - until 13 July, at the request of Ms Rowe and Katherine Jackson, who has temporary custody of the children.
Ms Rowe was left out of Jackson's will, which was drawn up in 2002 and details of which were made public this week. That follows media reports that Ms Rowe wanted to look after her children.
"I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Jean Rowe Jackson," the document states. But her lawyer, Eric George, told reporters: "I am representing to you now. Debbie has not reached a final decision concerning the pending custody proceedings."
Ms Rowe surrendered her parental rights in her divorce settlement with Jackson, but an appeals court later reversed the decision. On Thursday, it was revealed that Jackson had left Ms Rowe out of his will.
In 2003, Ms Rowe appeared in footage released by Jackson in response to a controversial documentary which raised allegations of inappropriate behaviour with children by the star. Jackson agreed a settlement with Ms Rowe in 2006
"I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Jean Rowe Jackson," the document stated.
Rowe married Jackson in 1996 but filed for divorce in 1999. She gave up custody rights to the children but sought them again in 2003.
They agreed a settlement in 2006 but the terms were never disclosed.
In 2003, Ms Rowe appeared in footage released by Jackson in response to a controversial ITV documentary which raised allegations of inappropriate behaviour with children by the star.
In it, Ms Rowe described her family as "non-traditional", saying her children were her gift to Jackson.In it, Ms Rowe described her family as "non-traditional", saying her children were her gift to Jackson.
"My kids don't call me mom because I don't want them to," she said. "These are Michael's children.""My kids don't call me mom because I don't want them to," she said. "These are Michael's children."