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| Malawi approves Madonna adoption | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A court has approved pop star Madonna's application to adopt a three-year-old Malawian boy, her lawyer has said. | A court has approved pop star Madonna's application to adopt a three-year-old Malawian boy, her lawyer has said. |
| "We are very happy with what the judge has ruled," Alan Chinula told reporters outside the courthouse in Malawi's capital Lilongwe. | "We are very happy with what the judge has ruled," Alan Chinula told reporters outside the courthouse in Malawi's capital Lilongwe. |
| The 49-year-old singer began adoption proceedings for David Banda back in October 2006. | The 49-year-old singer began adoption proceedings for David Banda back in October 2006. |
| She was granted a temporary custody order after choosing David from an orphanage when he was 13 months old. | She was granted a temporary custody order after choosing David from an orphanage when he was 13 months old. |
| "It is a positive and beautiful judgment that will have an impact on Malawi's adoption laws," Mr Chinula said. | |
| "Finally the court has granted Madonna full adoption rights of the boy - it's a long judgement but I am quite happy with it." | "Finally the court has granted Madonna full adoption rights of the boy - it's a long judgement but I am quite happy with it." |
| 'Well-researched' | |
| Madonna was not in court for the ruling. | Madonna was not in court for the ruling. |
| David was put in the orphanage by his father, Yohane, after his mother died of an Aids-related illness when he was a month old. | David was put in the orphanage by his father, Yohane, after his mother died of an Aids-related illness when he was a month old. |
| His father said he believed he could not care for him alone, and that placing him in an orphanage was the best way to ensure his survival. | His father said he believed he could not care for him alone, and that placing him in an orphanage was the best way to ensure his survival. |
| The adoption has been controversial, with critics accusing the government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children in Malawi, which has been badly hit by an Aids epidemic that has left more than one million orphans. | |
| Mr Chinula said he hoped the "well-researched judgement" would help bring clarity in similar cases in the future. | |
| Madonna has two other children, an 11-year-old daughter Lourdes with her former personal fitness trainer Carlos Leon, and a seven-year-old son Rocco with Guy Ritchie. | Madonna has two other children, an 11-year-old daughter Lourdes with her former personal fitness trainer Carlos Leon, and a seven-year-old son Rocco with Guy Ritchie. |