Court tightens parenting rules for Britney Spears

LOS ANGELES, Oct 5 (Reuters) A Los Angeles family court has issued strict rules governing Britney Spears' visitation rights with her children including that a monitor must be present whenever the pop star is with them.

The written order from Court Commissioner Scott Gordon was released yesterday, one day after he ruled that the two boys, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, would remain in the custody of their father, Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Media reports surrounding the bitter custody dispute also surfaced on Thursday saying Spears, 25, planned to check into a drug and alcohol rehab clinic. A spokesman for Spears' record label declined to comment.

''It's not our place to comment on her personal issues,'' said Allan Mayer in a statement on behalf of Jive Records.

In his ruling, Gordon said Spears ''was not in substantial compliance with material provisions'' of a previous order that set rules for visitation, parental counseling and drug and alcohol testing.

He did not say which parts of the order Spears had not followed.

The ruling said Federline, 29, would retain custody until a new hearing, set for October 26, except when Spears was visiting.

During those times, ''all visitation with (Spears), shall be in the presence of a monitor.'' The monitor ''shall terminate visitation immediately if any conduct or action by (Spears) endangers the minor children,'' it said.

Gordon repeated past orders that Spears undergo random drug testing twice a week, and said that a missed test, refusal to take one or the failure to respond to a testing agency's call would be considered a failed test.

Other previous stipulations dealing with counseling and parental coaching remained in effect.

Spears' custody battle caps a tumultuous year in the singer's personal life as she struggles to rejuvenate her recording career.

Since her split from Federline last November, Spears has drawn headlines for erratic behavior that has included club-hopping without panties, shaving her head bald, raging at a car with an umbrella and checking into and out of rehab.

REUTERS SYU HT0924