Spears husband Federline seeks support, custody

LOS ANGELES, Nov 9 (Reuters) One day after Britney Spears filed for divorce from husband Kevin Federline, the fledgling rapper responded yesterday with court papers seeking spousal support and custody of their two children.

Federline, 28, submitted his response in Los Angeles Superior Court, the same courthouse where Spears, 24, suddenly filed for divorce on Tuesday after two years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

The court papers show that, two months after the birth of their second son, both Spears and Federline were prepared to fight over custody of the children in what could be a bitter divorce proceeding.

''The pleading is responsive to the petition hurriedly filed by Britney Spears on Tuesday, which may have been a preemptive strike in anticipation by her of the filing by Kevin seeking sole custody of the children,'' Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said in a written statement.

''Kevin is prepared to go the distance in order to do what he feels is necessary to protect and safeguard the children and will not be intimidated or dissuaded from pursuit of those goals,'' Kaplan said.

Spears filed her divorce petition following a surprise appearance on ''The Late Show With David Lettermam,'' showing off a new, shorter haircut and black mini-dress. She made no mention of her impending divorce during her interview with Letterman -- but noticeably did not wear her wedding ring.

The pop superstar did not seek spousal support in her filing but asked for sole custody of one-year-old Sean Preston, and James Jayden, born on September 12.

Rumors had swirled for months that the marriage between Spears, who shot to international fame as a teenager in 1999 and has sold more than 70 million albums, and Federline was on the rocks.

Federline, a dancer in the pop princess' music videos before their secret 2004 wedding, has not escaped her shadow.

Often referred to as Mr Britney Spears, or the nickname K-Fed, he has two children by his former girlfriend, actress Shar Jackson.

A spokeswoman for Spears referred calls about Federline's response papers to her divorce attorney, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

Spears' marriage to Federline was her second after she wed a former high school sweetheart in Las Vegas in apparently spur-of-the-moment nuptials that were abruptly annulled.

REUTERS PDM HS0926