Britney sweeps MTV Video Music Awards

Los Angeles: Britney Spears swept the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night, winning the first three “Moonman'' statuettes of her career.

The pop sensation finally sealed her yearlong comeback with wins for Video of the Year, Best Pop Video and Best Female Video, all for her single “Piece of Me''.

Spears all but redeemed herself for last year's lacklustre VMA performance where she awkwardly strutted through her song “Gimme More''.

"I'm in shock right now," the starlet said while accepting her third award of the night, dressed in a shimmery silver dress.

Spears also opened the night with a few brief sentences, a far cry from the surprises MTV promised when it announced she would be launching the show.

"Thank you so much. Thank you for all the love. I'm here tonight to celebrate a very important birthday, the 25th anniversary of the VMAs. This is the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and it starts right now," Spears said before singer Rihanna began the first performance of the night.

Best Male Video went to R&B singer Chris Brown's "With You", while Linkin Park's "Shadow of the Day" won Best Rock Video.

Rapper Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" received Best Hip-hop Video while Tokio Hotel won Best New Artist.