KEISHA BUCHANAN last night sobbed as she told me how missing SUGABABE AMELLE BERRABAH ducked out of last week’s gigs by claiming a pal had been in a CAR CRASH.

Giving an eXSclusive interview in her LA hotel room, Keisha broke down and wept: “We thought she was broken up about the accident and were really worried. We did two shows without her, genuinely thinking her friend’s been in a really bad car accident.

“I said to our management can we please get the police around there because I’m really, really worried about her.

“That request didn’t come from her family or (bandmate) HEIDI, it came from me. The police went round and checked on her. They said she’s fine and had been home all week.”

Yesterday Amelle, who vanished for four days, said she’d spoken to her bandmates but Keisha insisted: “She hasn’t spoken to anyone.”

Keisha, who is being comforted by close friend LEONA LEWIS in Los Angeles, says she will try and sort things out with Amelle IF she travels there to film the video for their new single this week.

“I’m not going to lie to you and say everything will be fine because I don’t know. But as far as I’m concerned, we’re the Sugababes; me, Heidi and Amelle.

“The reason why I’m panicking and the reason why I’m crying is because maybe Amelle wants to do things on her own for good.” Keisha is distraught at claims she’s jealous of Amelle’s No 1 single with TINCHY STRYDER – ironically titled Never Leave You.

And she said ex-bandmate MUTYA BUENA, who Amelle replaced, is more talented.

She said: “What exactly is there to be jealous of? I’ve been doing things on the underground for God knows how long. Heidi’s talented too. Amelle’s really talented but the most talented person I’ve ever been around in my life was Mutya.”

Keisha says Amelle, who recently dumped gypsy boyfriend Freddie Fuller, regularly went AWOL.

“Every couple of months it will happen. At certain times there are people thinking they’re bigger than the band.

“She’d blame it on Freddie, she’d blame it on her family on all sorts of things. But what’s the excuse this time?

“Maybe she doesn’t have the balls to say she wants to go.” Keisha also hit back at claims that she’s bullying Amelle out of the band: “I say what’s on our mind. But that’s not bullying.

“It’s a huge accusation to make and I’m not going to let it lie. I was f***ing bullied myself at primary school.

“She’s thinking about leaving but I’m not going to be used as the scapegoat. These things make me stronger. I’m going to use this and write a killer song and I’m going to be fine.”