Madonna starts adoption bid

MADONNA has appeared in court in Malawi to sign papers to start proceedings to adopt a second child from the country.

But she will have to wait until the end of the week to find out whether she will be able to take home four-year-old Mercy James, chosen from the same orphanage as the 50-year-old star's son, David Banda.

Madonna arrived in the country on Sunday with daughter Lourdes, 12, and three-year-old Banda, who she adopted from Malawi last year.

The singer was seen walking through the village of Chinkhota with Lourdes and she spoke to residents and looked over drawings for a new school there that is being built with funds from her charity Raising Malawi.

She refused to comment to reporters about the planned adoption but told them it was "amazing" to be back in the country.

Today she was ushered into a court house in Lilongwe through a back door and attended a closed session before Judge Esme Chombo before leaving an hour later.

It was revealed later that the judge has adjourned the proceedings until Friday.