Cnn - Jermaine Jackson Angry About Latest Michael Slur

JERMAINE JACKSON has reacted angrily to the latest child molestation charges hanging over his brother MICHAEL - raining a four-letter-word-laced rant on cable news channel CNN.

The singer, who has jumped to his brother's defence when Michael has been involved in scandals in the past, phoned the news channel yesterday (20NOV03) to protest about the coverage of the pop superstar's arrest.

He raged, "I am sick and f**king tired of everybody saying these things about my family.

"We will fight and we will stand up and everybody who knows this family around the world will support us because, at the end of the day, this is nothing but a modern-day lynching.

"This is what they want to see - him in handcuffs! You got it! But it won't be for long, I promise you."

Meanwhile, Jackson's longtime pal DAVID GEST interrupted his holiday in Hawaii, where he's recovering after his split from estranged wife LIZA MINNELLI, to defend the King of Pop and offer excuses for his eccentric image.

Gest said, "I know people find it odd because he hangs around with younger people.

"He probably should have married much younger and had his own children, and he would never have had these problems."