George Michael fields questions at a news conference to promote NetAid

The officer is claiming slander by the singer and says he suffered mental and physical pain and was unable to do his job.

The pop star told The Express newspaper he would defend the action lodged by Mr Rodriguez, despite having been advised to settle out of court.

"I won't gladly hand a single penny over in terms of settlement," he said.

"There are two separate actions in the writ and he's asking $10m (�6.25m) for each of them. So there's $20m plus any doctors' bills which may be accruing as we speak," Michael said.

World poverty

The 36-year-old offered to speak to British tabloids about any subject - in return for "compassionate" coverage of a charity concert on 9 October.

The NetAid concert, raising cash for refugees in Kosovo and Sudan, includes simultaneous events at London's Wembley Stadium, New York and Geneva.

It will also be promoting a permanent Website dedicated to tackling world poverty.

Michael said he agreed to perform at the concert as he wants the UK public to realise that the people of Kosovo "still desperately need our help".

Michael said he would be singing his hits Spinning The Wheel, Fastlove, Freedom 90 and Father Figure.

'Ginger - not Posh'

Michael told the Daily Star that Geri Halliwell "is a really lovely girl. It's quite simple. We are very good friends".

And he told The Mirror he had not had sex with a woman for about 10 years - but if he did, he would choose the former Ginger Spice.

"If I was going to revert, then I'd say Geri's probably worth it. She's great looking but that is as far as it goes."

He said Halliwell was the sexiest Spice Girl: "I'm a Ginger rather than a Posh any day. I like girls with a bit of meat on them."

He also admitted he would not mind bedding either Tom Cruise or his wife Nicole Kidman. The former Wham frontman also said he would not use public toilets again.