Madonna's Mercy adoption

Aug 29, 2007, 11:00 GMT

Madonna holds her adopted son, David Banda, at an orphan care centre run by Raising Malawi, a grassroots initiative by Madonna, in Mphendula Village, about 40 km (25 miles) from the capital Lilongwe April 19, 2007. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Madonna is set to adopt a girl from Malawi.

The 'Hung Up' singer, who currently in the process of adopting 23-month-old Malawi boy David Banda, will be able to take home 13-month-old Mercy next April.

A source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Madonna is ecstatic she has been told she can take Mercy. She didn't want another complicated adoption. Mercy is a beautiful baby girl. She is so joyful and happy and giggles every time she is picked up. Madonna just loves the way she claps her hands and laughs constantly. She has huge eyes. Madonna calls her her smiling angel."

Madonna - who also has a 10-year-old daughter, Lourdes, and seven-year-old son, Rocco - decided to adopt another child from the African nation for David, "to redress the balance" in her family.

Malawi officials asked Madonna and her husband Guy Richie to meet 10 girls before a final decision was made.

The 49-year-old singer bonded with Mercy and three other girls, Jessica, Fanizio and Grace at the Kondanani Orphan Care Centre last October.

Madonna reportedly had her heart set on Grace, but the child's extended family objected.

Mercy has an aunt and other family members, but they are too poor to look after her, so they were forced to send her to an orphanage.

Madonna will file adoption papers in February and has told her lawyer in Malawi, Alan Chinula, to "cover all legal bases" to ensure the adoption goes smoothly.

Her adoption of David sparked controversy after it was revealed the boy's father, Yohane Banda, was still alive. Some critics of her adoption claimed Madonna's case was fast tracked because of her celebrity status.

The star will be visited by a Malawi court-appointed official next month to assess whether she and Guy are suitable parents for David.

Malawi official Penstone Kilembe - who had previously been refused permission to travel to Britain - announced on Monday (27.08.07): "There has been a change of mind by my government minister and she has allowed me to leave for the UK on September 4 and I am expected to spend two weeks."

Madonna's spokeswoman declined to comment about her client's latest adoption.

(C) BANG Media International