Debbie Rowe denies payoff claims

Debbie Rowe has denied reports that she accepted a $4 million (£2.4 million) payoff to relinquish custody rights to the two children she had with Michael Jackson.

It had been claimed that Rowe had reached the agreement with the family of her late ex-husband regarding their children Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11.

In an open letter to the New York Post, Rowe's lawyer Eric George said: There has been no agreement reached between Ms Rowe and the Jacksons.

"Ms Rowe has not and will not give up her parental rights. No determination has been reached concerning custody or visitation."

He added: "And Ms Rowe has not accepted and will not accept any additional financial consideration beyond the spousal support she and Michael personally agreed to several years ago."

George demanded that the newspaper publish an "immediate retraction" to its original article, but editor-in-chief Col Allan said: "The Post stands by its story."

Michael Jackson's mother Katherine has also denied paying Rowe to give up her rights to her children.