Michael Jackson makes brief stage comeback

Michael Jackson made a brief and suitably bizarre return to the live stage Wednesday at the World Music Awards in London.

The reclusive 48-year-old singer didn't perform the song many expected he would, and sang only a portion of the track he did choose to perform.

Accompanied by a group of swaying young singers, Jackson sang part ofWe arethe World at Earls Court Arena before the music suddenly stopped.

"There have been so many people who have loved me and stood by me. I love all the fans from the bottom of my heart," Jackson said from the stage.

He then threw his black jacket into the crowd and spent time shaking hands with people in the front row before leaving the stage.

It had been widely reported that Jackson would make his live comeback with a performance of the title track from Thriller.

The World Music Awards website even promised Jackson would be on stage "as part of a spectacular tribute" to the album that has sold over 50 million copies worldwide since its release in 1982.

Instead, R&B singer Chris Brown performed a version of Thriller earlier in the show.

Earlier Wednesday, Jackson told reporters in London that there had been a misunderstanding and that he would be not be performing at all.

Beyonce Knowles presented Jackson the Diamond Award, given to artists who havesold more than 100 million albums worldwide.

"If it wasn't for Michael Jackson, I would never ever have performed," said Knowles.

It was Jackson's first live performance since his acquittal on child molestation charges in California in June 2005. He has been rarely seen in public, and has spent time in Bahrain and Ireland.

It was also his first performance in the U.K. in nearly a decade.

On that occasion, Jackson and a youthful choir sang Earth Song at the British Music Awards, only to have the stage crashed by Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker, who flailed around mocking Jackson until removed by security.

The media have been buzzing with Jackson's return to London. It has been reported that the singer, his children and his entourage have taken over much of the posh Hempel Hotel, and that the singer requested a private jet from the award show producers.

A pair of Canadian acts fared well at the World Music Awards. Nelly Furtado won for best pop/rock artist, while Nickelback took the best rock group honours.