Britney barred from child visits

Britney Spears lost custody of her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline as a US court commissioner awarded sole custody of the two children to Federline.The commissioner gave sole physical and legal custody of the two boys to Federline and suspended the troubled pop star's visitation rights.Spears was hauled away from her home to a hospital by paramedics a day before, after police had to intervene when she refused to return the children to Federline after a court-monitored visit.Commissioner Scott Gordon ordered another hearing to be held January 14.Federline had previously been awarded temporary custody of two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James because Spears has defied court orders, resulting in limitations on her visitation.Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said he did not expect the ruling to be released until Monday, but it was issued shortly after the hearing concluded.In dramatic events on Friday the troubled singer was bundled onto a stretcher and taken to the hospital for mental evaluation. To make matters worse Britney's lawyers have said they no longer want to represent her. For several months now the fallen pop star has been having a very public meltdown amid drug and alcohol abuse charges.Her latest troubles began around 8 p m local time (0430GMT) on Thursday when officers were called to her home to help resolve a dispute over her refusal to turn the children over to Federline, as dictated by their custody agreement.It took two to three hours to resolve the conflict, said a Los Angeles police officer. Spears wasn't arrested in connection with the custody dispute, the police officer said.Police also said that Spears was hospitalised "for her own welfare".Spears' mother, Lynne Spears, also would not disclose any information about her daughter's condition.Spears and Federline were married in October 2004. Her life has spiralled downward since their divorce in July.She has been photographed without underwear and appeared to be drunk and out of control in public. She shaved her head, beat a car with an umbrella and spent a month in rehab.She had hoped to regain her pop crown with a much-hyped performance at MTV's Video Music Awards in September, but fans and critics deemed it a flop. (With Agency inputs)