Madonna to adopt 2nd child

2007-08-29 16:13

London - US pop star Madonna has been given the green light to adopt a second orphan from the southern African state of Malawi, Britain's Sun newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The 13-month-old girl, Mercy, could be brought to London next April to be a "sister" for David Banda, a 22-month-old Malawi boy adopted by Madonna last year.

The pop star, 49, is married to British film-maker Guy Ritchie, 38, and has two children of her own, Lourdes and Rocco.

According to the Sun, Madonna has instructed her lawyer in Malawi, Alan Chinula, to "cover all legal bases" before she collects Mercy, described by the pop star as a "smiling angel."

She saw Mercy, and other orphans, during a visit to the Kondanani Orphan Care Centre in Blantyre, the capital of Malawi.

Madonna would file the adoption papers next February, a month after David's adoption will be finalised, said the report.

A close family source told the Sun: "Madonna is over the moon that she's been told she can take Mercy. She didn't want another complicated adoption."

A spokesperson for Madonna in London declined to comment on the report. - dpa

- SAPA