Michael Jackson not biological father of his kids: Report (Lead)

Michael Jackson is not the biological father of his three children, according to celebrity website TMZ.com.

Jackson's 80-year-old mother Katherine Jackson was Tuesday granted temporary custody of the three children.

The website also says that Debbie Rowe, who bore two of the children, is also not their biological mother. She was only a surrogate who was paid to bear the children.

"We have learned Michael Jackson was not the biological father of any of his children. And Debbie Rowe is not the biological mother of the two kids she bore for Michael. All three children were conceived in vitro - outside the womb," the website says.

It adds: "Multiple sources deeply connected to the births tell us Michael was not the sperm donor for any of his kids. Debbie's eggs were not used. She was merely the surrogate, and paid well for her services in the births of Michael Jr. and Paris."

About the third and youngest child Prince Michael II, the website says: "We are told the surrogate was never told of the identity of the `receiving' parent - Michael Jackson. Three days after Prince was born at Grossmont Hospital in San Diego County, Jackson's lawyer came to the hospital to pick the baby up and deliver him to Michael.

"We do not know if Jackson chose the sperm or egg donors or if he even knew who they were."

The website says that though Debbie Rowe is not the biological mother, "it's not a slam dunk that she would lose a custody battle.

"This type of case has never been litigated in California courts. Since Rowe was married to Jackson when Michael Jr. and Paris were born, there's a presumption that she's the biological parent. That presumption can be rebutted by other evidence."

But a lawyer for Debbie Rowe said that the reports that she is not the biological mother of the two children are false.

"We refuse to be drawn into addressing the various rumours and speculation swirling in the media," said Rowe's attorney Marta Almli.

"The vast majority of what is out there is untrue. Particularly hurtful and insidious is the most recent rumour - which is entirely false - concerning the maternity of the children. Ms. Rowe is the biological mother of the two oldest children."

Last updated on Jul 1^st, 2009 at 12:48 pm IST--IANS