Spears wants no contact with Lutfi

6:09pm Thursday 31st July 2008

Britney Spears has dropped plans to seek a restraining order against a former friend accused by her mother of drugging her and holding her hostage, but said she did not want Osama "Sam" Lutfi back in her life.

A lawyer for the star said she did not want any contact with Lutfi, whose closeness to Spears with coincided some of the strangest episodes in her downward spiral of erratic behaviour.

"Britney has made clear to everyone that she does not want to be further harassed or contacted in any way by Osama 'Sam' Lutfi, now or at anytime in the future," the singer's lawyer Samuel Ingham said.

Lawyers for Spears and her father James, are expected to appear in a Los Angeles court to give an update on a legal ruling giving him control of the star's affairs.

A hearing on a temporary restraining order barring Lutfi from having contact with the pop singer had also been listed.

The order issued earlier this year required Lutfi to stay 250 yards away from Spears or her homes.

The singer's mother accused Lutfi - who described himself as a friend and occasional manager - in court papers of keeping Spears a hostage in her own home, drugging her and taking over her finances.

He was a fixture in Spears' life during a period when the star exhibited erratic behaviour, including being photographed without underwear, and occasionally looking dazed in public and two spells of hospitalisation.

Spears' father has control over his 26-year-old daughter's personal life and finances.

That power negates the need for a restraining order against Lutfi since James Spears' role as guardian allows him to decide who sees his daughter. He also serves as a court-appointed counsel representing Spears' interests.