Jackson pleads for no more "lurking behind bushes"

Michael Jackson wants US media to respect his privacy after having been indicted by a grand jury on suspected child molestation charges.

In a statement issued by his official web site, Jackson, who is in seclusion at a mansion in Orland, Florida, said, "I am respectfully requesting that media organizations please respect myprivacy and that of my children."

"As I release this statement there are helicopters hovering above my residence, reporters staking out and photographers lurking behind bushes, running rampant around my compound," Jackson said.

The 45-year-old star issued the statement after he was indicted Wednesday by a Santa Barbara County grand jury investigating accusations that he molested a boy from Los Angeles.

It remained unknown what the details of the indictment are, butJackson was charged last December by Santa Barbara County prosecutors with seven counts of having lewd acts with a child under 14 and two counts of offering intoxicating drinks to seduce the boy, report xinhuanet.com

According to BBC a grand jury in California found there was enough evidence to force the singer, 45, to face trial.

Mr Jackson, who is staying in Florida, wrote on his website: "There are helicopters hovering above my residence, reporters staking out, and photographers lurking behind bushes." He is expected to enter a "not guilty" plea at a court hearing on 30 April.

Mr Jackson was arrested last November amid accusations that he molested a 12-year-old boy but denies any wrongdoing. In December he was charged with seven counts of lewd acts on a child under the age of 14 and two counts of plying the boy with alcohol in order to seduce him at his Neverland ranch.