Madge hits back

She says she has acted "like anyone else"

17 Oct 06 - Madonna has tonight spoken for the first time over her adoption of Malawi boy David Banda.

In an official statement she defended her decision saying she had acted "according to the law like anyone else who adopts a child".

The singer said it was her wish "to open up our home and help one child escape an extreme life of hardship, poverty and in many cases death".

Madge's response comes on the day a media scrum surrounded her Londonpad this morning, as photographers and reporters tried to catch a glimpse of the Malawian boy as he arrived home.

Since news broke of Madonna’s adoption plans there’s been massive global media interest.

David Banda flew via Johannesburg from Malawi overnight with one of the US pop star's bodyguards. Her personal assistant was also on the flight and they arrived at London's Heathrow airport at around 0530.

Malawian authorities earlier waived local rules to grant Madonna and her British film director husband, Guy Ritchie, an interim adoption, prompting charges from human rights groups that the singer used her status to bypass normal adoption rules.

Witnesses say they saw the baby being carried off the flight by the female assistant, accompanied by a male bodyguard.

The child was then whisked away from the airport in a silver Mercedes car.

Malawian law bans adoptions by non-residents, but officials are granting an exemption to Madonna.

Her New York publicist said in a statement late on Monday:

"Madonna and her husband ... have been granted an interim adoption of baby David by the courts in Malawi. He was issued a passport and a visa was granted earlier today which allows him to travel outside of Malawi."

"This interim adoption grants David's new parents temporary custody for 18 months."


Adrian Larkin & Jo Youle