LOS ANGELES — Prosecutors brought felony charges yesterday against an Army reservist who allegedly stalked Ryan Seacrest, including showing up at the "American Idol" host's studio and attacking one of his bodyguards.

Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr., 25, faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the stalking charge.

He was arrested Friday after he appeared at the E! Entertainment Television headquarters and tried to see Seacrest, whose radio show is produced at the location. A restraining order petition filed by Seacrest's attorneys stated he was carrying a knife.

Uzomah is on probation after pleading guilty in September to misdemeanor charges of assault, battery and carrying a switchblade knife in Orange County after he attempted to meet Seacrest after an event and attacked one of the host's bodyguards.

FLU, E. COLI INFECTION HOSPITALIZE ELTON

LONDON — Elton John has been hospitalized after suffering from a case of E. coli bacterial infection and the flu, his spokesman said yesterday.

The pop star has been forced to cancel concerts in England, Ireland and the United States. John intends to rejoin the "Face2Face" tour later in the month when he and Billy Joel play concerts in northern California.

The spokesman said 62-year-old John is suffering from a "bad case of the flu and a minor case of E. coli." His Web site says he was advised by his doctor to postpone dates in Seattle and Portland, Ore.

APPEALS COURT TO RULE ON POLANSKI CASE

LOS ANGELES — A California appeals court is stepping into the Roman Polanski case.

The California 2nd District Court of Appeal yesterday set oral arguments in the case for Dec. 10.

Polanski's attorneys asked the court to order a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to decide a motion to dismiss the case against the director, regardless of whether he is present in a Los Angeles courtroom. The judge refused to rule on the dismissal motion earlier this year.

The appeal was filed before Polanski's arrest in September. He is wanted in the U.S. for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977 in Los Angeles.

GIBSON A FATHER FOR EIGHTH TIME

LOS ANGELES — Mel Gibson and his girlfriend are welcoming the birth of the couple's first child — making the Oscar winner a father for the eighth time.

Gibson's publicist said yesterday that Oksana Grigorieva gave birth to a baby girl named Lucia on Friday in Los Angeles.

The 53-year-old "Braveheart" star has seven children with his ex-wife, Robyn.