Federline cancels court date, Spears back in rehab

A family court appearance sought by budding rapper Kevin Federline was cancelled in Los Angeles on Thursday as estranged wife Britney Spears returned to rehab.

A Superior Court spokesman said Federline's representatives called to cancel the court appearance but gave no explanation.

It was not known why the 28-year-old former backup dancer initially requested the court session.

He and pop singer Spears, 25,ended their two-year marriage in November and had been disputing overthe custody of their two infant sons. A temporary order issued Feb.1 granted the former couple joint custody through this month.

Spears's bizarre behaviour has dominated headlines this week, with reports surfacingon celebrity websites early Thursday that Spears had returned to a Malibu rehabilitation facility after leaving a day earlier.

Later in the day, Spears's manager, Larry Rudolph, confirmed in an e-mail to the Associated Press that the singeris at the Promises Malibu drug and alcohol
rehabilitation centre. Hegave no further details.

Since her split with Federline, Spears who shot to international stardom with her 1999 debut Baby One More Time has stunned fans worldwide with her late-night partying and other antics. On many occasions, the young mother was photographed around town dressed in skimpy clothing and wearing no panties.

Most recently, Spears burst into a Los Angeles hair salon last Friday and shaved her own head, and there were reports about Spears checking in and out of treatment facilities.