Michael Jackson's drug addiction likely to have caused his death

The star has been taking a painkiller Demerol, which has less side effects on the body compared to morphine and he is said to have become addicted to this drug according to the Sun.

Jackson was in his LA home preparing for the gruelling 50-date London concerts through which he wanted to show the world he is still number one, according to his close friend Uri Geller.

Jackson's drug addiction problem was so severe that his family lawyer, Brian Oxman said that his death was not unexpected due to his addiction problems.

The lawyer added that Jackson's entourage were enablers and drew similarities with the death of Anna-Nicole Smith who died of drug overdose.

"This is not something that has been unexpected... because of the medications which Michael was under," Mr Oxman said from the hospital where Jackson's family members had gathered.

"The people who have surrounded him have been enabling him... if you think that the case of Anna-Nicole Smith was an abuse, it was nothing to what we have seen in Michael Jackson's life.

"I do not know the extent of the medications that he was taking but the reports we had been receiving in the family is that they were extensive. When you warn people that this is what's going to happen and then it happens... where there's smoke, there's fire," said Oxman speaking to CNN.

A good friend of Jackson, Liza Minnelli, told CBS's The Early Show that the singer's autopsy results will create a stir when they come out.

She said "All of us who knew him well really know what he was like.... And I'm sure that now the accolades are going, and I'm sure when the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose. So, thank God we're celebrating him now."

Jackson was under enormous stress to perform in the 50 concerts at London O2 centre. He is reported to have told his fans earlier outside his LA studio he was not sure how he will cope with the 50 shows as he originally wanted to do only 10 shows touring around the world.

"I don't know how I'm going to do 50 shows, I'm not a big eater - I need to put some weight on.

"I'm really angry with them [concert promoters] for booking me up to do 50 shows. I only wanted to do 10, and take the tour around the world to other cities, not 50 in one place.

"I went to bed knowing I'd sold 10 dates, and woke up to the news I was booked to do 50," said Jackson reportedly to his fans outside his LA studio.

Jackson fell ill after taking an injection of the potent painkiller Demerol which is suspected to have led to a cardiac arrest.