Jackson family split delays funeral

A family split over where to bury Michael Jackson is delaying the funeral of the late King of Pop who died two weeks ago, ABC News reported on Thursday.

Mystery has surrounded burial plans since Jackson's casket was whisked to a secret location following his globally televised memorial service on Tuesday.

The ABC report said Jackson's body was returned to the Forest Lawn memorial home while the family sorts out the burial imbroglio.

Jackson's brothers are determined to get permission to bury him at his Neverland estate. But his mother, Katherine Jackson, wants to find an alternative resting place that honours Jackson's wish made after he was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005, never to return to his home.

Jackson's brothers have already begun the lengthy process of obtaining permits to bury Jackson at Neverland, according to the report. But local officials said they have not had any contact with the Jackson family regarding the burial.

Jackson's supporters meanwhile appear to have an uphill battle to get him declared an American legend in an official congressional resolution.

House Resolution 600 praises the work and life of Jackson, "honouring an American legend and musical icon" and was proposed by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat from Los Angeles who also spoke at Jackson's memorial.

But House speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned the idea, saying it would disrespect Jackson by raising the controversies that haunted his later life.

"Michael Jackson was a great, great performer," Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference, explaining that a resolution would be a distraction and "would open up two contrary views" on Jackson's life.

Pelosi was speaking just days after Representative Peter King, a Republican from Long Island, blasted the media coverage of Jackson and called the performer a "pervert" and a "paedophile".