Demi Moore Files For Divorce From Kutcher

Actress Demi Moore has announced she is ending her marriage to Ashton Kutcher after six years.

In a statement the 49-year-old said she had made the decision to file for divorce with "great sadness and a heavy heart".

The couple's rocky relationship had been under the spotlight in recent months after rumours about 33-year-old Kutcher's alleged infidelity.

Moore's statement went on: "As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life.

"This is a trying time for me and my family, and so I would ask for the same compassion and privacy that you would give to anyone going through a similar situation."

The pair frequently used Twitter to communicate with each other as millions of fans followed.

And Kutcher took to the micro-blogging site to comment on the end of his marriage.

He wrote: "I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi.

"Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world and unfortunately sometimes they fail. Love and Light, AK."

The day before their sixth wedding anniversary, Moore ominously quoted philosopher Epictetus: "When we are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger."

Moore and Kutcher created the DNA Foundation, also known as the Demi and Ashton Foundation, in 2010 to combat the organised sexual exploitation of girls around the globe.

They later lent their support to the United Nations' efforts to fight human trafficking.

In recent weeks the couple looked strained as they reportedly attended marriage counselling sessions at their local Kabbalah centre in LA.

Kutcher had recently replaced Charlie Sheen in the sitcom Two And A Half Men.

Moore was married to Bruce Willis for 13 years and the couple had three daughters together.

The pair divorced in 2000 but remained close, with Moore and Kutcher attending Willis' wedding to model-actress Emma Heming in 2009.