Michael Jackson (50) has died in Los Angeles
Paramedics were called to the singer's Beverly Hills home at about midday on Thursday after he stopped breathing.
He was pronounced dead two hours later at the UCLA medical centre. Jackson's brother, Jermaine, said he was believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest.
Jackson, who had a history of health problems, had been due to stage a series of comeback concerts in the UK, beginning on 13 July.
Speaking on behalf of the Jackson family, Jermaine said doctors had tried to resuscitate the star for more than an hour without success.
Its so sad. I had tears in my eyes when following the messages yesterday night. Normally, I'm not moved when a VIP dies but somehow this time it is different. Maybe because I'm a musician by myself and loved his music.
I first thought it's a bad joke like in Patrick Swayze's case and I started hitting the F5-button at 11pm on several news pages, when I checked my emails.
A great person and maybe the last big entertainer in this world left us this night. Its so unreal. I often think about it being a PR joke and he makes a press conference tomorrow and says: HA! You got punk'd! I'm alive! But this will never happen.
Why do all good people die so early? Thats not fair. Hundrets of Million fans will never forget what he did, no matter if the accusations were right or wrong. Neither do I!
