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Michael Jackson with his mother Katherine Jackson in 2009 - Source: Reuters
The brother of late superstar Michael Jackson has denied reports his mother Katherine is missing, insisting the 82-year-old is "fine" and "resting up".
A missing persons report was filed at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office on Saturday after members of the Jackson clan were unable to get in touch with Katherine for a week.
Jermaine Jackson moved swiftly to clear up rumours about the family matriarch, who he says is recovering in Arizona.
In posts on Twitter, he writes, "I want to reassure everyone ... that Mother is fine but is resting up in AZ on the orders of a doctor, not us.... This is our mother and her health is paramount. We are not inventing or plotting anything. We are following doctor's advice. Period."
News of Katherine's disappearance comes just days after Jackson siblings including Jermaine, Randy and Janet fired off a letter contesting the authenticity of their superstar brother Michael's will.
The Jacksons accused John Branca and John McClain of faking legal documents prior to the singer's death in June 2009, and Katherine is believed to be in the middle of the dispute over the family's financial affairs.
A letter that leaked on the internet, written by the Jackson siblings claimed that Branca and McClain had "taken advantage of the family ... and have stressed out Katherine Jackson so much, that she recently suffered a "mini-stroke.'"
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed it had been contacted on Saturday after her grandchildren, Paris, Prince, and Blanket were unable to reach her all week.
"I can confirm that a missing person's report was filed this evening by Mrs. Katherine Jackson's nephew, Trent Jackson, after he was unable to see her or reach her for a week. The report will be referred to the Homicide/Missing Persons Unit, and they will be handling the investigation," Lt Josh Thai from the police department told US website Radar Online.
A source added that the family are concerned for Katherine's welfare.
"The kids are being taken care of by their nanny. Paris is absolutely beside herself with worry. She lost her father three years ago, and not to know if her grandmother is OK is just more than she can bear," the insider revealed.
Michael's teenage daughter Paris also took to Twitter to ask her followers to contact authorities with any sightings of Katherine.
She tweeted, "Yes, my grandmother is missing. I haven't spoken with her in a week... I want her home now. If anybody sees my grandmother, please call the authorities or this... security number. Thank you so much."
Katherine, 82, left her California home on July 15 to fly to New Mexico with her oldest daughter Rebbie Jackson, her lawyer Sandra Ribera told CNN.
"The kids were trying to get a hold of their grandmother and they haven't been able to reach her for almost a week," Ribera said.
"They are told she's unavailable. I'm concerned that she's not safe."
Katherine's lawyer told CNN she has never gone more than 24 hours without speaking to her grandchildren.