Madonna leaves Malawi with no Mercy

Apr 6, 2009, 9:25 GMT

The 50-year-old singer and her children Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight, and David, three, flew back to Britain last night after her bid to give Mercy a new home was rejected. EPA/PETER FOLEY

The Malawian child not allowed to be adopted by Madonna has been begging to see her new "mummy".

Mercy James, four, was sent back to her orphanage yesterday (05.04.09) allegedly bewildered and screaming for the pop star.

The 50-year-old singer and her children Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight, and David, three, flew back to Britain last night after her bid to give Mercy a new home was rejected.

The little girl was allegedly crying when she said goodbye to her "new family" and couldn't understand why they were leaving her.

The head of Kondanani Children's Home Annie Chikhwaza said: "It's devastating for Mercy. She had bonded with her new family and was calling for Madonna, saying, 'Where is my mummy?'

"She couldn't understand where Lola, David and Rocco had gone - she thought they were playing hide and seek. It broke my heart to see her crying out for David as they'd become inseparable.

"Madonna said she will do whatever it takes to get her back."

The '4 Minutes' singer and her children flew in Luton Airport where they were met by her former husband Guy Ritchie.

The star - who looked teary and forlorn as she left the plane - has already lodged an appeal against the adoption ruling and hopes the process will begin as early as today (06.04.09).

A source at Kumbali Lodge Hotel, located in the Malawian capital Lilongwe, said Madonna spent more than an hour talking to Mercy before she left the country.

The source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Madonna was up at dawn cradling Mercy, gently soothing her and making her laugh.

"You could see how upset she was when she had to say goodbye. She could barely wrench herself away."

High Court Judge Esme Chombo ruled Madonna was ineligible to adopt Mercy last week because she had not lived in the country for 18 months.

The singer was reportedly shocked by the decision as her plans had been endorsed by the African country's government.

Meanwhile, Guy, 40, has jumped to his ex-wife's defence calling her "a great mother".

A family friend: "Madonna was incredibly touched. He's been an unexpected source of strength."