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LOS ANGELES: Britney Spears has dropped her bid to regain custody of her two children with ex-husband Kevin Federline, heading off a potentially explosive and traumatic court-room trial, lawyers said Friday.
Spears' attorney Laura Wasser told reporters at Los Angeles Superior Court that a settlement had been reached between her client and Federline, who would retain custody of the couple's two sons, according to reports.
"Britney and Kevin have figured out a way to work together as co-parents, and the children will benefit as a result of that," Wasser said, describing the settlement as a "victory for the entire family."
Wasser did not provide details of the settlement, which a court spokesman said still needed to be formally approved. Neither Spears, 26, nor Federline, 30, attended Friday's court hearing.
Earlier, Los Angeles broadcaster KTTV and OK! magazine quoted Federline's lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan as saying that his client would have sole custody of Sean Preston 2, and Jayden James 1.
Spears would continue to have visitation rights, which could be widened at a later date, Kaplan was quoted as saying.
"All parties have agreed to the following: Kevin will retain sole legal and physical custody of Sean Preston and Jayden James," Kaplan said.
"Britney will continue to have visitation rights which may increase over time," Kaplan added. "Kevin is ecstatic and the boys are thriving."
After Friday's hearing, Kaplan said he would not divulge terms of the settlement until it had confirmed by the court.
"This has been a long ordeal, and to have that over is extremely rewarding," Kaplan said.
Spears currently has monitored visitation with her sons two days a week and one overnight stay. Her visitation rights were severely restricted this year amid spiralling personal problems and fears for the singer's mental health.
However, the pop star has appeared to have been getting her life back on track in recent months, after she was twice rushed to hospital in January for treatment in a psychiatric unit.
Spears, one of the most successful pop stars of her generation, had been locked in the custody saga with Federline since the couple split in 2006.
She lost custody of her children last October after she failed to submit to random drug testing as demanded at an earlier hearing where the court ruled she was a "habitual and continuous drug user."
Spears shot to superstardom in late 1998 with her smash-hit debut album "Baby One More Time," which she followed with another chart-topping success the following year, "Oops! ... I Did It Again."
- AFP/yb
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