Sources within the Spears camp today said she had scrapped plans for a media conference and one-on-one interviews in Melbourne next week. Instead, she will make a whirlwind visit to Sydney on Thursday.

The one-day Sydney visit would comprise a rare public appearance at which she is expected to perform three of her songs live at Fox Studios, and an appearance on the red carpet for the premiere of her new film, Crossroads.

Late last month, even Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue became a Spears critic, after the US star was booed during a recent promotional appearance in London.

A spokeswoman said security concerns had prevented Spears from spending much time with about 3000 fans, who had waited hours for her brief appearance outside the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square.

Some fans were reduced to tears after Spears arrived an hour late and went inside after waving to the crowd for only a few minutes.

A few days later, while collecting her award for best international artist at the Capital FM Awards in London, Minogue spoke out about Spears' advisers.

'Her PRs have pushed her in the wrong direction and she is being misguided,' Minogue said.

'Britney's been in the business a long time and she should know the ropes by now.'

During her last visit to Australia, late last year, Spears was also on the receiving end of media and fans alike after she jetted into Sydney, the morning after the September 11 terrorist strikes on the US.

Her promotional visit gave Spears' fans little opportunity to catch a glimpse of her.

To make things worse, she was pictured during her visit with a half-empty bottle of Coke, the fierce competitor of her multi-million dollar sponsor, Pepsi.

source: Sunday Times