LOS ANGELES • Hollywood actor Brad Pitt will undergo drug and alcohol tests as part of a temporary agreement with his estranged wife Angelina Jolie that will allow him to see their six children, two people familiar with the agreement have said.

The temporary agreement, which will run until Oct 20, was the first breakthrough in the bitter split between the superstar couple since Jolie filed for divorce on Sept 19.

The actress cited "the health of the family" and sought full physical custody of the children.

Pitt, 52, and Jolie, 41, both agreed to undergo individual counselling, and Pitt's initial visit with the children will take place with a therapist, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

No ruling or decision has been made on who will eventually have legal or physical custody, they said.

Several celebrity gossip outlets reported that the divorcing couple were persuaded to agree to the detente by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

Representatives of Pitt and Jolie did not return calls for comment on Friday. Media reports say that since their separation, Pitt has not seen the three biological and three adopted children he had with Jolie.

The couple, dubbed Brangelina during their decade-long romance, split 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.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has said it is evaluating whether to pursue an investigation into the matter. Both stars have laid low since the announcement of their divorce. Pitt skipped the red carpet premiere in Los Angeles of his latest movie project last week, saying he wanted to focus on his "family situation".

Pitt's next film is the November war drama Allied, in which he stars with French actress Marion Cotillard. Cotillard issued a statement on Sept 21 strongly denying any involvement in Pitt's divorce after rumours that they became romantically involved during filming.

Celebrity news organisation Entertainment Tonight quoted a source close to the couple as saying the two sides had recently been having "productive discussions".

"The fact that things have quieted down is a good sign for everyone," the source told the channel.

Representatives for the couple as well as the Department of Children and Family Services did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE