'I want my kids back'

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's ex-wife has revealed she plans to fight for custody of the two children she had with the singer.

Debbie Rowe, who was married to Jackson for three years from 1996, said in an interview: "I want my children."

Rowe said she was willing to submit to any testing, including DNA, to prove she was the biological mother of Prince Michael, 12 and Paris, 11.

In her interview with NBC in Los Angeles, Rowe also revealed she would seek a restraining order to keep Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, away from the children.

Rowe, who met Jackson while working in a Beverly Hills dermatology clinic, entered into a surrogacy agreement with the star in 1996, nine months before the couple wed.

The agreement reportedly stipulated that Ms Rowe should not have sex for six months before she was inseminated.

Rowe said she received a £6 million (about BDS$18 million) pay-off, a £1.6 million (about BDS$4.8 million) home, a car, clothes, furs and jewels as part of the deal.

Rowe reportedly agreed to "knowingly and voluntarily waive my right to contest Michael's paternity of either child" and "consent to Michael being declared the father".

After giving birth to Prince Michael, Rowe was inseminated again four months later and gave birth to Paris in April 1998.

The couple were divorced by October the following year.

On Monday, a court named the star's mother Katherine Jackson as the temporary guardian of Prince Michael, Paris and younger brother Prince Michael II, who was born to a secret surrogate.

A will drafted in 2002 revealed Jackson wanted his 79-year-old mother to gain custody of his children in the event of his death.

Soul legend Diana Ross was named as a back-up guardian.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that a public memorial for the late pop star will take place at Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Tuesday. (NBC)