Jackson's fans mourn pop idol around world

HONG KONG: Fans in Asia stayed up into the wee hours, bars across Europe were holding Michael Jackson theme nights and television stations from Sydney to Paris cleared their schedules yesterday to broadcast the King of Pop's star-studded memorial service live from Los Angeles.

Fans said they would mourn, and celebrate the singer's life, with the thousands attending the US event, where entertainers including Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Usher, Lionel Richie and Queen Latifah were due to pay tribute to the star, who died on June 25.

Asked about the emotional outpouring over Jackson's death, President Obama in Moscow harked back to the deaths of other famous musicians.