Jackson 'is sane, focused and healthy'

The head of tour promoter AEG has expressed his confidence in Michael Jackson's physical and mental state ahead of his residency at the O2 in London.

Tim Leiweke told the Billboard Music & Money Symposium at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City that the singer may add more shows to the ten already announced at the venue yesterday.

Leiweke said of Jackson: "The man is very sane, the man is very focused, the man is very healthy. I think he has been dragged through the mud.

"Despite everything you read about him, he was fine. The man took a physical for us to go do these concerts.

"We spent two years working with Michael trying to get him comfortable with this.

"I think you'll see 20, 25 dates at the O2. His production budget is... Wow."