LOS ANGELES, America- A public memorial for singer Michael Jackson will be held on Tuesday in Los Angeles, a concert promoter said on Thursday, as his former wife said she planned to fight for custody of their children.

Randy Phillips, Chief executive of concert promoter AEG Live, said Jackson's highly anticipated memorial would be held at the rock concert and sporting venue, the Staples Center, in Downtown Los Angeles. Jackson, 50, died a week ago of cardiac arrest.

Some 11,000 tickets will be distributed free of charge for the event, a public relations firm representing the family said in a statement. It said the memorial service would take place at 10 am (0400 GMT) on Tuesday.