US R&B star Chris Brown is taking anger-management classes following his arrest on suspicion of assault, it's been reported.

Brown was questioned by police earlier this month following a complaint of assault from an unknown woman, reported to be his girlfriend, singer Rihanna.

Brown and the woman are believed to have got into an argument in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles.

The New York Daily News reports that Brown's publicist, Michael Sitrick, has encouraged the singer to attend an anger-management facility in Glendale, California ahead of a scheduled court appearance next month.

“Chris doesn't actually have to go by law, but he believes it will make him look better to the public, and he wants to try to get in a few classes before March 5th,” a source told the newspaper.

As previously reported, a photo believed to be of Rihanna, which showed her with extensive facial injuries, emerged online last week.

The LAPD have refused to confirm that the woman in the picture was Rihanna, but said they had launched an internal affairs investigation to uncover how the image had appeared in public.

In a statement on Saturday (February 21st), Rihanna's spokesperson said: "At the request of the authorities, Rihanna is not commenting about the incident involving Chris Brown.”

Her spokesperson added that the singer wanted to “assure her fans that she remains strong”.

Brown has already apologised over the incident and has said he is seeking counselling.

(by Jason Gregory)