MICHAEL JACKSON - JACKSON APPROACHED ABOUT WESTLIFE DUET

Troubled pop superstar MICHAEL JACKSON has been asked to record a duet with Irish boyband WESTLIFE next year (06).

The THRILLER singer was acquitted of child molestation charges in June (05) and his since sought sanctuary in the Middle East with his friend PRINCE ABDULLA, the son of the King of Bahrain.

But the 47-year-old is keen to return to the spotlight and has already recruited a galaxy of stars to appear on a charity record to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The group's manager LOUIS WALSH says, "Michael Jackson is an inspiration and we are approaching him.

"The boys have sung with DIANA ROSS and MARIAH CAREY on their new album. So we thought, 'Who next?' Jackson would be great."