Michael Jackson begged friends not to let his father get custody of his children if he died, according to reports.

The 50-year-old pop icon - who died of a suspected cardiac arrest earlier this month - was adamant Joe, who he accused of physically abusing him as a child, should care for Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II.

A source said: "Michael talked so much about his kids. He said he was doing his comeback concerts for them. He hoped to give them financial security.

"It was as though he'd had a premonition of his own death. The one thing he wanted - and insisted upon - was that his father Joe didn't get anywhere near the kids.

"I know the last thing he wanted was for Joe to play a part in the raising of his children if he died. He told me, 'I don't want him doing to them what he did to me.' "

It has been claimed Michael was keen for his mother Katherine - who he named as the person who should care for his children in the event of his death in a will drawn up in 2002 - to care for the children, but also wanted his sister Janet to have some input.

The source explained to the National Enquirer magazine: "The family is going to splinter over this. Janet will go up against her mother and will likely get the backing of her brothers.

"But her sister La Toya will side with her mother.

"It is believed Michael named Janet to get custody on some papers. He often said in the last two years, 'Janet is the only sane person in my whole family. She's the only one who isn't out for herself and actually cares about these kids.' "