Father hopes Jacko will attend Berlin birthday bash
Speculation intensified today that Michael Jackson would attend a birthday party being thrown for his father in Berlin this weekend.
Joe Jackson, who turns 76 on Friday, said he very much hoped the star would join the celebration but could not confirm or deny the rumours.
A spokeswoman for the Estrel hotel, where the party will take place, said they were "70% sure" he would be there.
"We hope he will come, everything is ready, we are waiting for him and all he needs to do is get in a plane," said Mihaela Djuranovi.
The troubled King of Pop has not been seen in public since he was acquitted of child molestation last month.
His father said the singer was a big fan of the German capital and knew he had a lot of fans there.
"I hope that Michael will come to Berlin," he told a press conference at the hotel.
"We have a lot of fans in Europe. They were in Santa Maria to support the family. It's about the European fans, those who care about the family."
Jackson, 46, has already thrown open an invitation to fans, despite uncertainty about whether he will appear in person.
His siblings, Jermaine, Janet and La Toya, will all be at the party, along with some 1,000 fans and friends of the family.
Veteran New York Post gossip columnist Liz Smith also suggested today that the singer was set to appear with the Jackson clan.
"Michael will perform a solo song, then join his brothers for more," she claimed.
Ms Djuranovi confirmed that Joe Jackson had booked out the 250 square-foot presidential suite.
"If he comes, Michael Jackson and his children will stay here too," she said. "It has five bedrooms, two especially for children which are filled with toys."
It was during his last trip to the German capital that Jackson created a worldwide furore by dangling his baby son, Prince Michael II, over a hotel balcony.
