Rapper 50 Cent has been told by a New York judge to surrender any guns he might have after an ex-girlfriend obtained a restraining order. The order bars the performer, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, from contacting Shaniqua Tompkins without the court's permission. Ms Tompkins is the mother of Mr Jackson's 10-year-old son.

Mr Jackson's lawyer, Brett Kimmel, said he would contest the order. "To my knowledge, he has no guns," he said.

Ms Tompkins has been involved legal row with Mr Jackson over money. She claims she is entitled to half of his estate, based on an oral agreement.

Last month a fire destroyed the rapper's home in Long Island, where Ms Tompkins lived with their son. Police said they were treating the fire as suspicious.

Mr Jackson, who also owns a record label as well as clothing and footwear lines, has denied any involvement in the fire.

Separately on Friday, he filed a $20m (£10m) defamation lawsuit against Ms Tomkins for statements she made to the media.

"It's completely baseless and it's retaliatory," Ms Tompkins' lawyer, Paul Catsandonis, said of the defamation action, which was filed in Mr Jackson's home state of Connecticut.

"It's nothing more than an attempt to rehabilitate his image."