Pills were seized from the mansion where Michael Jackson died

Bags of pills and other medicines were seized from Michael Jackson's rented mansion as his personal physician continued to insist that the singer had not taken an overdose.

Dr Conrad Murray's lawyer Edward Chernoff said his client was "ruling out" an overdose as cause of death based on what he knew of Jackson's final hours.

But speculation over the role of medication in the singer's demise was further fuelled after coroners investigating the death were seen removing two bags of pharmaceutical drugs from Jackson's home.

Assistant chief coroner Ed Winter said the substances were being seized following information from the police investigation and questions raised by the coroner's office.

But he declined to say what the drugs were or the quantities involved.

Mr Chernoff told CNN that his client believed that Jackson's death was not the result of medication. Asked if it was possible that Jackson could have taken drugs not prescribed by the doctor, Mr Chernoff replied: "I suppose it is possible, but Dr Murray was there that night and he did not see him take Demerol or OxyContin or any other pills that would have cased these problems."

A full toxicology report from the coroner's examination is weeks away from being returned. Meanwhile the family of the dead pop star is continuing to wait for the results of a second private post mortem they ordered themselves.

Joe Jackson, the singer's father, said he was waiting to find out what happened to his son before announcing details of his funeral. But Mr Jackson said the funeral will not be closed to the public.