Innocent Sugababes Amelle Berrabah

May 1, 2007, 11:20 GMT

Sugababes star Amelle Berrabah says she is "the innocent party".

The singer, who was arrested after allegedly attacking an 18-year-old girl in a bar brawl on Saturday (28.04.07), says she has been left "devastated" by the incident.

Amelle, 23, is quoted as saying: "I am devastated this has happened when things were going so well with the band. We've just had a great tour and I was having a drink with my sister Laila relaxing on a day off.

"The other girls should be the ones punished, not me. What happened was unbelievable and my sister got hit by one of the boys. I am the innocent party."

Amelle and her sister Laila, 24, were dancing at Guildford's Bar Med when they reportedly exchanged words with a group of girls before a fight broke out.

The unnamed 18-year-old victim claims Amelle had to be dragged away by club security after launching a vicious attack - "kicking" and "hitting" her.

The singer spent a few hours in a Surrey police cell, before persuading police to let her make a statement early on Sunday morning (29.04.07), so she could join bandmates Keisha Buchanan and Heidi Range on a flight to Los Angeles.

Last night (30.04.07), police said they were examining CCTV footage of the incident and "continuing with their enquiries".

Amelle joined the Sugababes in December 2005, replacing Mutya Buena.

(C) BANG Media International