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       #Post#: 12--------------------------------------------------
       Malawi government backs Madonna on adoption
       By: Montraviatommygun Date: February 28, 2011, 2:35 am
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       Malawi government backs Madonna on adoption
       LILONGWE (Reuters) - Malawi's government has recommended that
       its High Court approve Madonna's adoption of David Banda, the
       child she met in a Malawian orphanage a year and a half ago.
       By Mabvuto Banda
       LILONGWE, Malawi (Reuters) - Malawi's government has recommended
       that its High Court formally approve pop star Madonna's adoption
       of David Banda, the child she met in a Malawian orphanage a year
       and a half ago.
       Madonna began adoption proceedings in 2006, and the 2-year-old
       boy has been living with the singer and her film director
       husband, Guy Ritchie, in their London home since then.
       The adoption has been controversial, with critics accusing the
       government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting
       children in the southern African country, where an AIDS epidemic
       has left more than 1 million children orphaned.
       But in a confidential report dated March 25, 2008, signed by
       probation officer S. Chisale at the Ministry of Women and Child
       Development, the government said Madonna and Ritchie had proved
       to be suitable parents for the Malawian boy.
       "In the best interest of the child, I do recommend the
       petitioners to your lordship for your consideration that they be
       granted an adoption order having proved that they are suitable
       parents and satisfied the conditions in the interim adoption
       order," the report said.
       In February, Malawian Information Minister Patricia Kaliati
       praised Madonna's efforts to rally support for orphans in the
       impoverished country and said it would be wrong for the
       government to deny the pop star's adoption of a child there.
       Meanwhile, Madonna's lawyers have asked the courts to delay the
       entertainer's appearance in court for the adoption hearing from
       next week to the end of April, because she has another
       engagement in the United States.
       "They have made that application at (the) High Court today, and
       the judge is expected to respond this afternoon," a court
       official said.
       Reuters/Nielsen
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