POP STAR’S FUNERAL IS DUE TODAY

Pop star Michael Jackson's family is to hold a "private function" at a Los Angeles cemetery on Tuesday, foreign media reports. Police confirmed the event would be taking place at the Forest Lawn Cemetery, but it has not been confirmed if the singer would be buried there.

A memorial service for the singer is due to take place a few hours later. A total of 8,750 fans were chosen at random to receive tickets to attend the ceremony at the Staples Center. More than 1.6 million people applied for one of the 11,000 passes issued for the event, with an additional 6,500 issued for a screening.