Enquirer Says Sorry to Britney Spears

Celebrity magazine the National Enquirer has apologised for articles in its British edition that claimed Britney Spears' marriage was over.

The star used British libel laws to take action over two articles published last month that suggested her marriage was finished, and that she was going to divorce husband Kevin Federline.

Under the settlement, the National Enquirer has apologised formally but will not have to pay damages, nor will it be required to publish an apology in its US edition

"Contrary to what our articles might have suggested, we now accept that their marriage is not over and they are not getting divorced," it said.

"These allegations are untrue and we now accept Britney's position that the statements are without foundation. We apologise for any distress caused."

On June 5 the Enquirer published an article headlined, "Britney marriage is over!" following it the next week with "Britney and Kevin: And now their divorce!".

Spears' UK lawyer, Paul Tweed, told the BBC that legal proceedings were going ahead against a number of other newspapers and magazines that followed up the National Enquirer's articles.

Spears married Federline, a dancer, in September 2004, and gave birth to their first child, Sean Preston, last year. She is pregnant with a second child.