Madonna adoption case is delayed

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Madonna's court hearing, which will finalise her adoption of two-year-old David Banda, has been postponed after the pop star requested a delay.

The 49-year-old singer sought permission from Malawi's High Court to put the hearing back as she had to travel to the US to promote her album.

A court official told Reuters the final hearing would now be 15 May "unless her lawyers ask for another date".

Malawi's government has already recommended the adoption goes ahead.

The singer, who is currently number one in the UK singles chart, met the boy in an orphanage in 2006 and began adoption proceedings soon afterwards.

Since then he has been living with Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie in London.

Last year critics alleged that she had used her celebrity status to "fast-track" the adoption and get around Malawian laws.

However, Madonna strenuously denied that this was the case.