Legal bid to stop adoption

MALAWI: Malawi rights groups vowed on Wednesday to press ahead with a legal bid to stop Madonna from adopting a local one-year…

MALAWI: Malawi rights groups vowed on Wednesday to press ahead with a legal bid to stop Madonna from adopting a local one-year-old boy, even though the child's family have given their consent to the pop diva.

Madonna has angered rights groups with her plans to adopt young David Banda, who left his native country on Tuesday for the singer's home in London after she was granted a temporary adoption by Malawi authorities.

Banda will stay with Madonna for 18 months, during which time his progress will be monitored by Malawi officials before final approval can be given for him to join her family. Justin Dzonzi, a lawyer for rights groups pushing for a court order against the interim adoption granted to Madonna, said they plan to approach the courts next week.

A senior member of one of the groups that wants to stop the adoption said the family's approval weakened their court case.