Troubled American pop princess Britney Spears was embroiled in an alleged assault on a photographer this week outside the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

One of her sons was hurt during the nasty brawl between her bodyguard and an eager member of the paparazzi.

Britney, 25, had been at the popular Casino hotel for a little under 24 hours with her two kids when the scuffle broke out.

Police said the star's bodyguard Julio Camera hit a paparazzo who was trying get pictures of the singer as she made her way though the hotel.

Pictures of the incident show the bodyguard jumping on the photographer, who is lying on the floor with his hands protecting his head, while hotel security staff try to pull the Camera away.

In response Britney filed a crime report on behalf of one of her sons saying another snapper, Kyle Henderson, had battered her son and her bodyguard in an earlier clash.

Police did not immediately file charges against the photographer but Britney's bodyguard was cited for misdemeanor battery.

Troubled Britney flew to Vegas in a private jet on Wednesday afternoon with her brother Bryan and sons Sean Preston, 22 months, and Jayden James, 10 months.
 
It is not clear which of the boys was caught up and hit in the fight.

Las Vegas cops said that they were alerted to a disturbance at the Wynn Hotel and Casino just before midday.

Meanwhile, the Britney reportedly took her children to Las Vegas without her ex husband Kevin Federline's permission, which is required under their custody arrangement.

One source told American magazine Us: "K-Fed is demanding that she get back to Los Angeles because she isn't allowed to have the kids out of state."
Another Federline source says, "Britney did not have written permission to take the kids out of state. She needs written permission and she never got it or alerted people she was leaving. I'm sure Kevin's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, is mulling over how to handle this."