LOS ANGELES. Oct 9: Michael Jackson and his wife Debbie Rowe, have decided to divorce, ending their three-year marriage, a spokesman for the pop star said Friday, reports

Rowe. 40. filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court and cited irreconcilable differences in their marriage. They have been separated since July 15.

The two mutually agreed” to divorce.* spokesman Howard Rubenstein said.

"Divorce papers were filed today. Michael and Debbie remain friends, and they ask that the public respects their desire not to further comment or speculate upon the reasons for their decision." he added in a statement.

The two married in Australia in November 1996 and have two children -- Prince Michael Junior aged two and a half, and daughter Paris Michael Katherine, born April 1998 and named after the city where she was conceived.

Rowe's name first appeared in connection with Jackson in November 1996. when Jack-son’s agents revealed that she was bearing his child. At the time, they made no mention of marriage.

British press had claimed that Rowe was artificially inseminated. but the couple have formally denied the charge

But nothing has tarnished Jackson's reputation so much as the accusations of paedophilia that surfaced in 1993 Jackson insisted on his innocence. and settled out of court for an undisclosed sum to put an end to charges that he molested a I3-year-old boy.

Jackson’. 41. divorced his first wife Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of the late rock star Elvis Presley, less than a year before he married Rowe She was also a divorcee and has known Jackson for 15 years.