Pop singer Britney Spears gave birth to a baby boy at a Los Angeles hospital on Wednesday, Us Weekly magazine reported on its Web site.

Representatives for Spears were not immediately available for comment on the report, which said the 23-year-old entertainer gave birth by Caesarean section shortly before 1 pm (1700 GMT) at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center. Hospital officials declined to comment.

The magazine said Spears was taken to the hospital early on Wednesday morning with a police escort and accompanied by her husband, dancer Kevin Federline. Spears, who married Federline in September last year, had been previously reported as saying she planned to have the baby by Caesarean section to avoid the pain of a natural birth.

The singer became a worldwide pop phenomenon at the age of 16 and has sold more than 60 million albums. She made no secret of her desire to become a mother at a young age and put touring, performances and public appearances on hold after her marriage. Federline, 27, has two young children by his former girlfriend, actress Shar Jackson.