Madonna adoption goes to court

UPI NewsTrack

A Malawi children's charity went to court Monday to try to stop pop star Madonna from adopting a 1-year-old African boy.

The Human Rights Consultative Committee claims the adoption of David Banda is unlawful because Madonna has not lived in the African country.

The laws of Malawi are clear that if one wants to adopt a child one has to stay with the child for at least 18 months for assessment, HRCC chairman Justin Dzonzi said.

If Madonna wants to adopt this baby she has to stay here, he told the BBC.

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie were granted an interim order last week letting them adopt the motherless baby, despite the country's laws that forbid nonresidents from adopting Malawian children.

The couple returned to Britain this past weekend without baby David after a 10-day visit to Malawi. During their visit Madonna made a $3 million donation to help children infected with HIV.