Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Sue National Enquirer 4/17/07

Singing/acting couple Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are suing US tabloid National Enquirer in several European courts, over allegations they were linked to a heroin scandal.

The pair's Northern Ireland-based lawyer Paul Tweed said they were seeking a "six-figure settlement" from the publication and its parent company American Media Inc.

Tweed is expected to file one of the lawsuits in a Belfast court today (17Apr07) and subsequent suits in London, Dublin and Paris later this week (ends20Apr07).

The couple are seeking an apology and retraction regarding a March (07) article, which claimed they were "caught up in a heroin scandal", and published a 2004 image of the Salsa singer, 37, standing beside photographer Michael Star, who is awaiting trial in the United States for heroin possession and child pornography.

Tweed maintains the couple are not acquaintances of Star and Anthony posed for a photograph with Star in a fan capacity.

Tweed said Lopez and Anthony had decided to sue in Europe because "the First Amendment restrictions in US libel law make it virtually impossible for international celebrities or other high-profile individuals to sue successfully".