Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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April 3, 2009

Malawi Court Rejects Madonna's Adoption Bid
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=23539EB:A6F02AD83191E160077E0FF467423C0EA13B8D4F2090AB2B&
 
Pop star denied request to adopt four-year-old girl, Mercy James,
because of requirement that prospective parents live in country for at
least 18 months 
Madonna with her adopted son David Banda at Mphandula Day Care Centre
for orphans near Lilongwe, Malawi A judge has rejected pop singer
Madonna's request to adopt a second child from Malawi. Court officials
say Madonna's request was denied because of a requirement that
prospective parents live in the southern African nation for at least 18
months. The entertainer had wanted to adopt a four-year-old girl, Mercy
James. It was not immediately clear whether Madonna would appeal the
ruling. Mercy's teenage mother died shortly after giving birth and the
child resides in an orphanage. Human rights groups accused the Malawian
government of giving Madonna special treatment in 2006 when she adopted
her son. They said she she was allowed to skirt the country's legal
restrictions on adoptions by non-residents. Madonna's son, David Banda,
is now three years old and earlier this week visited his biological
father. Last year, a Malawian court finalized David's adoption. Madonna
is single, following her divorce from British film director Guy Ritchie
last year. She has two other biological children, ages eight and 12.
Madonna has ties to Malawi. She has set up the Raising Malawi charity,
which provides support to vulnerable children.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.


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