London, Dec 12 (IANS) Fans of Michael Jackson have lauched a petition to prevent the broadcast of a gruesome TV show featuring a re-enactment of the late singer's autopsy.

The Discovery Channel's controversial programme "Michael Jackson's Autopsy" is said to be based on the official coroner's report and court documents taken after the "Thriller" hitmaker's death in 2009. It is due to air in Britain Jan 13.

The show will follow a pathologist as he performs a full autopsy on a synthetic cadaver and exposes the "medical myths that surrounded Jackson throughout his troubled life, his drug addiction, his vitiligo and other disorders", reports contactmusic.com.

Members of two Jackson campaign groups - MJ Justice Project and MJ Children - are now urging other Jackson fans to contact bosses at the Discovery Channel to voice their displeasure about the show.

The petition states: "We ask the directors of the Discovery Channel programming to proceed with the outright cancellation of this indecent documentary."