Madonna adoption bid is turned down

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The 50-year-old pop superstar had made an application to adopt Chifundo "Mercy" James, who is about four.

Malawian regulations stipulate that prospective parents be resident in the country for 18 to 24 months, during which time welfare officials assess their suitability - a rule that was bent when Madonna was allowed to take her adopted son David, now three, to London before his adoption was finalised in 2008.

The 50-year-old pop superstar can appeal the ruling to Malawi's Supreme Court.

It was not clear why Judge Esme Chombo ruled differently on Thursday. Another judge had handled Madonna's previous adoption case. Madonna was not in court for the hearing.

The star's efforts to adopt Chifundo had drawn criticism from some activists who said the little girl would be best off with relatives. In court papers made public on Thursday, Madonna said the little girl's grandmother was unable to care for her.

Madonna had promised to make Mercy a permanent part of her family and spare her the "hardship and emotional trauma" of life as an orphan.

The girl's mother, according to the affidavit, died at age 14 just days after her baby was born January 22, 2006. There was no mention of the father in the affidavit. The mother's brother is listed as having consented to the adoption.

"I am able and willing to securely provide for Chifundo James and make her a permanent and established member of my family," Madonna said. "To deny Chifundo James the opportunity to be adopted by me could expose her to hardship and emotional trauma which is otherwise avoidable."

Malawi's child welfare minister Anna Kachikho had endorsed Madonna's adoption application, adding: "We have close to two million orphans in Malawi who need help."