Jermaine Jackson's wife says divorce is best option

Singer Jermaine Jackson's wife Halima Rashid

Singer Jermaine Jackson's wife Halima Rashid says their lives would be better if they divorced.

The 61-year-old's spouse, whom he married in 2004, filed for divorce earlier this week. "With a great amount of sorrow and regret, I announce that I am filing for divorce from Jermaine Jackson. We have enjoyed many good times during our marriage of nearly 12 years, but we have reached a point where our lives would be better and more productive if we are not married," a website quoted Rashid as saying.

"I respect and care for Jermaine and his family, and feel blessed to have been a part of them. At this time, I ask that our friends, family members and the media respect the difficulty of this decision and allow us privacy as we move on with our lives," she added.