Jacko speaks of trial ordeal

Michael Jackson has spoken publicly for the first time about his child abuse trial, saying it was 'the hardest thing I have ever done in my life'.

The singer gave a brief interview in Bahrain, where he fled after the fivemonth case in California ended.

He said he was 'resting and recovering' with his children and 'feeling good'.

Work on recording a charity song to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina was 'moving full speed ahead', the 47-year-old added.

The interview is the first Jackson has given since June, when he walked free from court in Santa Maria after a jury acquitted him of child molestation.

Jackson also said that he was feeling creative again and he hoped his latest recording would follow the success of the 1984 worldwide hit We Are the World, which he co-wrote to benefit African starvation victims.

The song is likely to be named From The Bottom Of My Heart.

'I'm constantly working on it,' he said. Rumoured to be in the line-up for the charity recording are Mariah Carey, James Brown and rap star Snoop Dogg.

Jackson is staying in Bahrain as a guest of the king's son, Prince Abdullah.

Afriend of the prince said of the singer: 'He's the best, amazing, so kind.'

At Jackson's trial, he was cleared of molesting 13-year-old cancer sufferer Gavin Arvizo after celebrities including Macaulay Culkin appeared as witnesses. The accusation came after Jackson paid £20million to Jordy Chandler, another boy who accused him of abuse.

Some music industry anaylsts doubt whether the star will be able to resurrect his pop career after this summer's trial.