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| Madonna 'ecstatic' over adoption | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Madonna has said she is "ecstatic" after her bid to adopt a second child was approved by a Malawian court. | |
| The 50-year-old had appealed after a lower court rejected her original application to adopt Chifundo "Mercy" James, four, over residency issues. | |
| But the appeals court said the star's commitment to helping disadvantaged children had not been considered. | But the appeals court said the star's commitment to helping disadvantaged children had not been considered. |
| "My family and I look forward to sharing our lives with her," Madonna said in a statement. | |
| She said she was "extremely grateful" to the court for its ruling. | |
| Madonna's lawyer Alan Chinula said he was arranging a passport for Mercy and was waiting to hear from Madonna about travel plans for the child. | |
| Mercy's uncle Peter Baneti said the family welcomed the ruling. | |
| "We hope Mercy will be joining Madonna soon," he said. | |
| Better life | Better life |
| The southern African state's chief justice, Lovemore Munlo, praised Madonna's interest in helping Malawian orphans and said the child would have a better life with the star. | The southern African state's chief justice, Lovemore Munlo, praised Madonna's interest in helping Malawian orphans and said the child would have a better life with the star. |
| Madonna's lawyer on adoption verdict | Madonna's lawyer on adoption verdict |
| The singer has founded a charity, Raising Malawi, which helps feed, educate and provide medical care for some of Malawi's one million-plus orphans. | |
| "In our view, Chifundo James is better taken care of by being adopted by foreign parents who will give her love and affection," he said during the appeal hearing. | "In our view, Chifundo James is better taken care of by being adopted by foreign parents who will give her love and affection," he said during the appeal hearing. |
| She was also financially stable, he added. | She was also financially stable, he added. |
| "In this global village, a man can have more than one place at which he resides. | "In this global village, a man can have more than one place at which he resides. |
| "The matter of residence should be determined at the time of application of the adoption. | "The matter of residence should be determined at the time of application of the adoption. |
| "In this case, Madonna was in Malawi not by chance but by intention." | "In this case, Madonna was in Malawi not by chance but by intention." |
| Madonna's commitment to Malawian orphans meant she could "not be described as a sojourner", he added. | Madonna's commitment to Malawian orphans meant she could "not be described as a sojourner", he added. |
| In our view, Chifundo James is better taken care of by being adopted by foreign parents who will give her love and affection Chief justice Lovemore Munlo | In our view, Chifundo James is better taken care of by being adopted by foreign parents who will give her love and affection Chief justice Lovemore Munlo |
| Judge Esmie Chondo ruled out the adoption in April, saying prospective parents had to be resident in Malawi for 18 months. | |
| Those rules were waived in 2006 when Madonna adopted a boy, David, from the southern African state. | Those rules were waived in 2006 when Madonna adopted a boy, David, from the southern African state. |
| Raising Malawi | Raising Malawi |
| Child welfare groups had argued that the residency rule was central to adoptions, and that Malawian parents should be sought before children were placed overseas. | Child welfare groups had argued that the residency rule was central to adoptions, and that Malawian parents should be sought before children were placed overseas. |
| The appeals court said the earlier decision had been based on a narrow interpretation of old laws. | The appeals court said the earlier decision had been based on a narrow interpretation of old laws. |
| But the appeal ruling has been criticised by Malawi's Human Rights Consultative Committee - a coalition of non-governmental organisations. | But the appeal ruling has been criticised by Malawi's Human Rights Consultative Committee - a coalition of non-governmental organisations. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The Material Girl has got her own way again, proof that money really is power Craig Ruff, Manchester Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The Material Girl has got her own way again, proof that money really is power Craig Ruff, Manchester Send us your comments |
| Undule Mwakasungula said the judge had "disregarded" international agreements on children's rights and adoptions. | Undule Mwakasungula said the judge had "disregarded" international agreements on children's rights and adoptions. |
| "We are a bit surprised but we can't challenge it because the supreme court has ruled and we have to go with that," he said. | "We are a bit surprised but we can't challenge it because the supreme court has ruled and we have to go with that," he said. |
| Mercy has been living in an orphanage since her teenage mother died shortly after giving birth. | Mercy has been living in an orphanage since her teenage mother died shortly after giving birth. |
| Madonna also has two biological children - Lourdes, 12, and Rocco, aged eight. | Madonna also has two biological children - Lourdes, 12, and Rocco, aged eight. |
| Last month, the man believed to be Mercy's father, told US TV programme The Early Show he opposed the adoption and wanted to look after her - even though he had never met her. | |
| After the appeal court's decision, he told CBS News: "I'm crying. I need my baby. I don't know where I can find any help." | |