Judge gives Jackson the okay to talk

Judge Rodney Melville has given Michael Jackson permission to make a public statement on his pal Geraldo Rivera's American news show - as long as he doesn't mention his upcoming child molestation trial.

Jackson wants to talk to Rivera about recent attacks on his personal life and the Indian Ocean Asia tsunami on the show.

He has been told he cannot break the gag order which prevents those involved in the case from talking about it.