Celine Dion's husband Rene Angelil has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman two years ago.

Yun Kyeong Sung Kwon, an ordained minister in Full Gospel World church, said Mr Angelil, who acts as Dion's manager, assaulted her at two years ago in Las Vegas.

Ms Kwon and her husband, also a minister, filed a civil lawsuit on 15 March against Mr Angelil and others at the Clark County District Court in Las Vegas.

Police are also investigating the allegations.

Sergeant Chris Darcy of the Los Angeles Police confirmed a complaint had been made but said detectives were hampered by the two-year delay in reporting the alleged crime.

A gagging order has been placed on both sides by district judge Allan R Earl to prevent them talking about the case.

Las Vegas

The suit accuses Mr Angelil of assault and sexual battery and asks the judge to overturn an unspecified cash settlement that was reached in 2000.

Ms Kwon and her husband, Ae H Kwon, are also seeking $130,000 (�91,206) from Mr Angelil and his business, Coliseum, as well as the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, where the attack was alleged to have happened.

Dion is a Canadian singer best known for My Heart Will Go On, from the film Titanic.

She and Angelil and their one-year-old son are due to move to a new home in Las Vegas before she starts a three-year engagement at the Caesars Palace hotel-casino in March 2003.