T

he untimely death of Michael Jackson stunned many people around the world, not least his legion of Indonesian fans.

"It's hard to believe *he* died, just like that - without any reports of illness beforehand," remarked Erdian Fahmarini, 42, a worker in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Tiur Sitorus, 27, who claims she has been a Michael Jackson fan since she was five, was "shocked, paralyzed" upon hearing the news on Friday morning.

One could be mistaken for thinking it was the mid-1980s, the heyday of the Jackson era, as radio stations on Friday afternoon blasted out Jackson's greatest hits.

Agung Wiryanto, the co-owner of DJWirya online radio station, said there was a noticeable increase in popularity of Jackson's songs as news of his death spread.

Agung also said Jackson's songs were still very popular, with "Thriller" being the most requested single, followed by "Black or White", "The Girl Is Mine" and "Heal the World".

Requests for these had peaked during the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts earlier this year, Agung said.

Chat-room gossip also revolved around the possible cause of Jackson's death. Authorities were scheduled to perform an autopsy, but cautioned that it could take weeks to determine a cause of death, which will likely have to wait for the return of toxicology tests, Reuters reported.

Few details were known about the circumstances surrounding Jackson's death, except that he was reportedly not breathing by the time he arrived at UCLA Medical Center.

In Los Angeles on Friday, a family attorney said he had been concerned about Jackson's use of prescription drugs but that the entertainer's inner circle had ignored his warnings.

Lawyer Brian Oxman, a spokesman for the Jackson family, on Friday told CBS's "The Early Show" he had been concerned about the prescription drugs Jackson took for injuries suffered while performing.

"I had warned everyone that I could warn and I told them that one day Michael Jackson is going to wake up dead," Oxman said.

Around the globe a worldwide chorus of grief united the famous - statesmen and superstars alike - and legions of ordinary people who grew up with "Thriller" and "Beat It".

"It's so sad and shocking," former Beatle Paul McCartney said. "He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul."

Italian actress Sophia Loren told the Associated Press she hopes "Michael will find that peace that maybe he did not have in the last 15 years". Loren and her children often visited Jackson's Neverland ranch in California.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela issued a message saying Jackson's loss would be felt worldwide. Jackson sang at a birthday concert for Mandela in 1998.

Several world leaders weighed in. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called it "lamentable news," although he criticized the media for paying it so much attention.

Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who had met Jackson, described him as a hero.

Jackson also had a huge fan base in Seoul, South Korea, where his style and dance moves were widely emulated by Korean pop stars.

"He is my master and the prime mover to make me dance," pop star Rain told the South Korean sports and entertainment daily Ilgan Sports. "Even though he is dead, he is an eternal performer."

The former Philippines first lady, Imelda Marcos, who cheered Jackson's acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005, said she cried on hearing the news.