LOS ANGELES• Film star Brad Pitt has been cleared of abuse allegations in a child welfare investigation and has asked a court to grant him shared custody of his six children with his estranged wife, actress Angelina Jolie, a source said on Wednesday.

Pitt, 52, fully cooperated in a comprehensive inquiry conducted by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which found no wrongdoing on his part, according to the source.

He and Jolie split in September following an incident on a private plane in which Pitt was reported to have lost his temper in front of one or more of the children.

According to celebrity news website TMZ.com, Jolie accused Pitt of striking their eldest son, Maddox. Jolie, 41, filed for divorce in September, seeking full physical custody of their children, aged eight to 15.

Having been cleared of abuse, Pitt went to court last Friday and filed for joint custody of all six children, according to the source.

A representative for Jolie said on Wednesday she was "relieved that, after their eight-week involvement, the DCFS is now satisfied the safeguards are put in place that will allow the children to heal".

In September, Pitt agreed to submit to drug and alcohol testing under a temporary agreement with Jolie allowing him visits with their children, two people familiar with that agreement said then. The estranged couple also agreed to undergo individual counselling at that time.

Both stars have kept a generally low profile since the announcement of their divorce.

But, on Wednesday night, Pitt made his first red-carpet appearance since the split, at the premiere of his new film Allied in Los Angeles. He smiled, waved and took pictures with fans.

REUTERS