Police and emergency medical technicians who were summoned to the singer’s Los Angeles home on January 3 in a stand-off involving her alleged refusal to return the boys to ex-husband, Kevin Federline, will testify, probably behind closed doors, Mr Federline’s lawyer said.

"I don’t know if she will be there," Mark Kaplan said, but he suggested she would have to appear in person if she wanted to press her request to see her children.

"You can’t phone this one in," he added.

If Spears comes to court, Mr Kaplan said she would be expected to testify. "She will have the opportunity to persuade the court that she can have some visitation under monitored conditions," he said.

Mr Kaplan said he knew it was only a temporary measure when he obtained emergency court orders two weeks ago granting sole physical and legal custody to Mr Federline.

"These are very, very draconian orders," he said. "Because of that the court wanted to have a hearing to give her and her attorneys the opportunity to refute some of the declarations.

"No judge likes making orders terminating a person’s involvement with their kids."

Meanwhile, police were preparing for a media frenzy in the downtown Los Angeles civic centre if Spears appeared, issuing warnings that vehicle and pedestrian offences would lead to prosecution.

Britney dating photographer? - Jan 11 2007
Britney Spears has reportedly enjoyed a brief break in Mexico with paparazzi photographer Adnan Ghalib - fuelling rumours that they are dating.

The pop princess, 26, and snapper Ghalib, 35, spent time in Rosarito, south of Tijuana, reports People.com.

They arrived at the Rosarito Beach Hotel in a black SUV and spent some time making purchases in the gift shop, according to Mexican newspaper Frontera.

Britney is thought to have spent much of the past week with Ghalib, and People reports that the photographer’s picture agency Finalpixx says the pair are "happily dating".

Last week a court commissioner awarded sole custody of Britney’s two young sons to her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Los Angeles commissioner Scott Gordon issued a ruling the day after Brit was taken away from her home to a hospital by paramedics after police had to intervene when she refused to return the children to Federline after a court-monitored visit.

Dr Phil crossed the line, say Spears family - Jan 10 2008
Britney Spears’s family says "Dr Phil" McGraw crossed the line by not keeping his mouth shut after visiting the singer.

Lou Taylor, a business manager for Britney’s mother and sister, appeared on NBC’s Today show and said McGraw betrayed the family’s trust by talking to the media about Britney’s mental health after visiting her in hospital.

"The family basically extended an invitation of trust for him to come in as a resource to support them, not to go out and make public statements," Taylor said.

"Any statement publicly that he made, because he was brought in under this cloak of trust, (is) just inappropriate."

Taylor said McGraw was invited by the family, but "was not invited to make this part of a public display or part of the media".

McGraw said earlier this week he was shelving plans for a show on Britney as her situation was "too intense".

Taylor said McGraw broached the idea of the show to Britney’s handlers, who eventually decided it would be "detrimental" to the family.

McGraw representative Theresa Corigliano said McGraw "stands by his previous statements".