Joe Jackson said he had a "lot of concerns" over events leading up to the tragedy.

He was commenting as details began to emerge yesterday of results from the post-mortem carried out on his body.

It was reported Jackson weighed only 8st 1oz and his stomach only contained partially-dissolved pills when he died.

Post-mortem findings were reported to say the singer had four injection marks near his heart, apparently from attempts to pump adrenaline into the organ in a bid to restart it.

Speaking on the Black Entertainment Television Awards red carpet, Joe Jackson said he could not go into details about what his concerns were.

But Mr Jackson told ABC7: "Michael was dead before he left the house. I'm suspecting foul play somewhere.

"He was waving to everybody and telling them he loves them and all the fans at the gate. A few minutes after Michael was out there, he was dead."

Los Angeles County Coroner's officials said their post-mortem found no indication of trauma or foul play but, because of additional tests, an official cause of death could take weeks to decide.

The Jackson family's lawyer said more would be said after the results of a second post-mortem examination.

Mr Jackson said the singer's children were the family's "first priority" and that he and Michael's mother, Katherine, have "authority for our son and his children".

Asked about funeral arrangements, Mr Jackson said: "We haven't got to that yet, we are working on that."

The lawyer representing the singer's doctor, Conrad Murray, said he did not administer the drugs which may have contributed to his death.

Edward Chernoff said: "Dr Murray has never prescribed nor administered Demerol to Michael Jackson. Not ever. Not that day. Not OxyContin (either) for that matter."

It followed reports that the singer received a shot of Demerol – a powerful painkiller – shortly before his death.

Mr Chernoff also discussed how his client found the dying singer. "He just happened to find him in his bed and he wasn't breathing. Mr Jackson was still warm and had a pulse."

A spokeswoman for Mr Chernoff had said earlier Dr Murray was "is in no way a suspect" after speaking to police officers in Los Angeles at the weekend.

She said the doctor, accompanied by Mr Chernoff, spoke to officers for three hours and "answered every and all questions asked".

She added: "During the meeting Dr Murray helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies.

"Dr Murray has been in Los Angeles since the death of Mr Jackson. He rode in the ambulance to the hospital and stayed at the hospital for hours, comforting and consoling the Jackson family.

"Investigators say the doctor is in no way a suspect and remains a witness to this tragedy.

"Dr Murray will continue to co-operate fully with the authorities and asks that all keep the Jackson family in their prayers."

Los Angeles Police confirmed they did not intend to speak to Dr Murray again but the investigation was continuing.

Jackson topped the album chart on Sunday night six years after his last number one as British fans constructed shrines to remember their idol.

His greatest hits album, Number Ones, took the top spot after a surge in sales saw record shop shelves stripped of his work.

Music retailer HMV said many branches had been emptied of Jackson albums since his death following a cardiac arrest at his rented Los Angeles home on Thursday.

Distraught fans who had been eagerly anticipating his planned farewell series of 50 shows at London's O2 Arena travelled from all over the country to gather at various locations in London which had links with the star.

Meanwhile, family friend and civil rights activist the Rev Al Sharpton said Jackson's family wanted to hold memorials in key cities around the globe.


Shows in London were for children

Michael Jackson's friend Mark Lester said the singer wanted to perform his This Is It concerts so his children could see him doing "what daddy does best".

Former Oliver! child actor Lester said "perfectionist" Jackson would not have taken on the 50 gigs if he had doubts about his ability to complete them.

Talking about the concert commitment at London's 02 arena, he said: "Michael wouldn't have taken it on if he had any doubt that he couldn't have done it."

He also revealed how Jackson loved to tuck into his favourite meal of fish and chips when he visited London. Lester said the three children were "everything" to the singer. "He wanted his children to see daddy do what daddy does best...the kids had never seen Michael performing live, this was an opportunity to see him."