Whitney Houston postpones more dates after illness

Singer Whitney Houston has postponed three more dates on her European tour after suffering from a respiratory infection, her record label said today.

Houston had been due to perform in Manchester on 8 and 9 April but the gigs have been rescheduled for 16 and 17 June. Her Glasgow show on 11 April has also been moved to 1 May.

"Doctors visited Whitney late last night in Paris and confirmed that she was suffering from an upper respiratory infection," RCA Label Group, part of Sony Music Entertainment, said in a statement.

"Upon medical advice Whitney has been advised that she cannot perform to allow her time to recover."

The 46-year-old already postponed a concert in Paris on Tuesday, delaying the European leg of a world tour that received a rocky reception in Asia and Australia.

French media reported today that she had been admitted to hospital suffering from throat and respiratory system infections.

The American Hospital in Paris, a private hospital which treats many prominent individuals, said it could not comment on any patient issues.

According to Sony, Houston is next set to perform on 13 April in Birmingham, England.

Houston, one of the top selling US female vocalists of all time, launched a comeback last year after battling drug addiction and released "I Look To You", her first studio album in seven years that topped the US and other charts.

But her performance during her "Nothing but Love" world tour in Australia was panned by some critics and fans who walked out of her concerts, complaining she was off key, out of breath, and looked exhausted.

Her publicist Kristen Foster issued a statement denying Houston was having health problems.