Minnelli has blood illness

Liza Minnelli is suffering from a mysterious blood disorder, it was claimed at her divorce hearing yesterday.

Lawyers for husband David Gest asked the Cabaret star to take a blood test and accused her of failing to reveal her illness before they married.

Dressed head to toe in black apart from a big pink scarf, Minnelli waved to fans as she arrived at a Manhattan court for the first round of her divorce battle.

The 57-year-old singer is being sued for £7million by Gest, who claims she beat him so badly he was left permanently injured. She is counter-suing him for £2million, alleging he stole from her.

On the blood test, Gest's lawyer Raoul Felder said: 'We resolved the issue to our satisfaction. No-one seeks to embarrass this lady.'

Gest was said to be recovering from his injuries in Hawaii. But Minnelli's lawyer rejected claims that her husband was too ill to travel to New York, saying: 'There is no reason for him not to be here.'

The pair married in March 2002, with Michael Jackson as best man.

They were introduced by Jackson after Gest produced his 30th anniversary TV tribute concert - but separated last July.

Minnelli has battled alcoholism, addiction to prescription drugs, erratic weight gain and a near-fatal bout of encephalitis.