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Court to rule on Madonna adoption Madonna adoption case adjourned
(about 1 hour later)
A court in Malawi is due to rule on an application by human rights groups to cancel US pop star Madonna's adoption of a local child. The hearing of a case brought by rights groups challenging Madonna's adoption of a Malawian boy has been adjourned.
An alliance of 67 groups is pushing for the right to challenge the interim adoption order which let her take one-year-old David out of the country. The pop star's lawyer told reporters the hearing was postponed until 13 November so the judge could hear from other parties involved in the case.
They argue that Malawi law bans foreign adoptions and that Madonna's wealth and status simplified the process. An alliance of 67 groups is pushing for the right to challenge the interim adoption order which let Madonna take one-year-old David out of the country.
Reports differ about the views of the boy's father on the adoption. His father was at the court, protesting against moves to halt the adoption.
Some suggest he felt he had been tricked into signing adoption papers while others imply he is worried that criticisms made of Madonna would deter the singer from adopting his son altogether. A spokesman for the rights groups, Maxwell Matewere, said they would not "move an inch to stop the legal action" despite the Yohane Banda's appeal.
He has appealed for the human rights groups to leave his child alone.
David Banda is at Madonna's London home after a Malawi judge granted her the temporary custody order.
'Regret to inform'
The world's media is packed into the capital, Lilongwe, for the next instalment in this intriguing saga, the BBC's Karen Allen reports.
A spokesman for the rights groups, Maxwell Matewere, said they would not "move an inch to stop the legal action" despite the father's appeal.
Mr Matewere, director of the Eye of the Child organisation, told AFP news agency it was clear that David should not have been allowed to leave the country.Mr Matewere, director of the Eye of the Child organisation, told AFP news agency it was clear that David should not have been allowed to leave the country.
He argues that Malawi law bans foreign adoptions and that Madonna's wealth and status simplified the process.
An open letter to Madonna from Eye of the Child says:An open letter to Madonna from Eye of the Child says:
"Inter-country adoption is prohibited under the Malawi current Children Adoption Act as section 3(5) reads 'an adoption order shall not be made in favour of any applicant who is not a resident in Malawi or in respect of any infant who so resident'.""Inter-country adoption is prohibited under the Malawi current Children Adoption Act as section 3(5) reads 'an adoption order shall not be made in favour of any applicant who is not a resident in Malawi or in respect of any infant who so resident'."
The letter ends: "God bless you for the motherly and loving heart."The letter ends: "God bless you for the motherly and loving heart."
'Leave him alone' 'Fears return'
Yohane Banda, the boy's father, told the BBC he feared the controversy stirred by the groups could prompt Madonna to return the child. Mr Banda told the BBC he feared the controversy stirred by the groups could prompt Madonna to return his son.
HAVE YOUR SAY The best thing Madonna can do is ask the press to leave her alone Jeremy, Druffield Send us your viewsHAVE YOUR SAY The best thing Madonna can do is ask the press to leave her alone Jeremy, Druffield Send us your views
He urged the human rights groups challenging the adoption to leave the child alone, and added that he was unable to look after David himself.He urged the human rights groups challenging the adoption to leave the child alone, and added that he was unable to look after David himself.
He earlier told the Associated Press news agency that he would not have consented to the adoption had he known it meant giving up his son for good.He earlier told the Associated Press news agency that he would not have consented to the adoption had he known it meant giving up his son for good.
He said he had initially thought Madonna would just "educate and take care" of him.He said he had initially thought Madonna would just "educate and take care" of him.
"I was never told that adoption means that David will no longer be my son - if I was told this, I would not have allowed the adoption.""I was never told that adoption means that David will no longer be my son - if I was told this, I would not have allowed the adoption."
However, he also told Time magazine he did not want to challenge the adoption:However, he also told Time magazine he did not want to challenge the adoption:
"I don't want my child, who is already gone, to come back. I will be killing his future.""I don't want my child, who is already gone, to come back. I will be killing his future."
Madonna herself has said she is "disappointed" by the media coverage of, arguing it will discourage others from adopting.Madonna herself has said she is "disappointed" by the media coverage of, arguing it will discourage others from adopting.
The case will return to court on 13 November.