Lufti: 'Helping Britney is a moral obligation'

Britney Spears' friend and manager Sam Lufti has described helping her as a "moral obligation".

He told Ryan Seacrest that he could not abandon the singer when she was in such a fragile state, saying: "You meet her and she cries, and she begs [you] not to turn on her."

He denied reports that he had attempted to profit from the relationship by selling exclusive photos, insisting that he had "never accepted money from the media".

He also hit out at her mother Lynne after she accused him of trying to control his daughter's life by having her admitted to hospital.

He said her family were "incapable of telling the truth and incapable of sympathizing" and that he had had enough of trying to keep the peace.

He added: "[I have] no more respect for the family."

Lufti was reportedly banned from the waiting room at UCLA Medical Centre after arguing with Lynne, although he was later allowed to enter.

A source close to Lynne dismissed claims that she had not wanted Britney to be hospitalised, telling E! News: "[She] is glad Britney is being treated. This has always been her wish and Jamie's wish. She just wishes that Sam wasn't the one in control and wants him to step aside. This is a family matter."