10:44pm UK, Tuesday November 18, 2003

Police have searched pop star Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch in California after reports of allegations of sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy.

Authorities said the search related to a criminal investigation. Dozens of uniformed officers are searching the site.

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Jackson: Child allegations

The singer and his three young children were in Las Vegas where Jackson was filming a video.

Police did not specify the nature of the investigation but US cable channel Court TV reported that the search warrant stemmed from allegations of sexual abuse by the boy.

A sheriff's spokesman confirmed a search warrant had been executed at the 45-year-old musician's sprawling home in the Santa Ynez Valley outside Santa Barbara, two hours north of Los Angeles.

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's office was also involved in the action.

The allegations come nine years after a 14-year-old reached an out-of-court agreement to settle a lawsuit accusing the singer of molesting him in 1992.

No criminal charges were ever brought in that case.

The search came on the same day Epic Records released Number Ones - a greatest hits collection featuring Jackson's new single, One More Chance.

Jackson's friend, illusionist Uri Geller but said he knew nothing of the allegations.

"He is very gullible and he is naive, he is very childlike and, I believe, very innocent," Mr Geller said.

"I, as a father, would not associate myself with anyone who I would even remotely suspect would have done something wrong to a child."