Madonna’s new baby arrives in London

LILONGWE-Human rights and child protection groups went to court yesterday to challenge the speedy decision to grant Madonna temporary custody of a Malawian child the pop star is seeking to adopt.

The one-year-old boy, David Banda, was flown to London overnight and taken to Madonna’s home. Human rights and child protection groups went to court yesterday morning in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, contending that the courts had improperly waived Malawian laws to allow Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie, to take temporary custody of the child.They said they want to ensure child protection regulations were not swept aside to benefit a singer who has been generous to Malawi.A statement from Liz Rosenberg, Madonna’s publicist in New York, said the child was issued a passport and a visa on Monday.The couple were granted interim adoption of the child, who was granted a visa that allows him to travel with them, Rosenberg said.”This interim adoption grants David’s new parents temporary custody for 18 months, during which time they will be evaluated by the courts of Malawi per the tribal customs of the country,” she said.Banda was accompanied when he left Lilongwe by two Britons and two Americans, one of whom listed her occupation as nanny, according to a Malawi immigration official at the airport who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.Nampa-APHuman rights and child protection groups went to court yesterday morning in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, contending that the courts had improperly waived Malawian laws to allow Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie, to take temporary custody of the child.They said they want to ensure child protection regulations were not swept aside to benefit a singer who has been generous to Malawi.A statement from Liz Rosenberg, Madonna’s publicist in New York, said the child was issued a passport and a visa on Monday.The couple were granted interim adoption of the child, who was granted a visa that allows him to travel with them, Rosenberg said.”This interim adoption grants David’s new parents temporary custody for 18 months, during which time they will be evaluated by the courts of Malawi per the tribal customs of the country,” she said.Banda was accompanied when he left Lilongwe by two Britons and two Americans, one of whom listed her occupation as nanny, according to a Malawi immigration official at the airport who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.Nampa-AP