Zahara's mum supports Jolie's adoption

The biological mother of Angelina Jolie's adopted Ethiopian child Zahara has spoken out to defend the actress, and insisted that she is happy her daughter now has a better life.

Mentwabe Dawit denied that she had tried to challenge Jolie's adoption and get her daughter to come back to Africa.

Mentwabe told Reuters that "so-called journalists" had twisted what she had told them, saying: "I have never disputed the adoption. This was a mistake. It was something I never said."

Reports last week said that she had claimed that the adoption papers were incorrect because she was still alive. But the agency that arranged the adoption insisted that it was "legal" following the accusations.

Mentwabe explained that her mother had put Zahara up for adoption after she ran away because she had no money to feed her daughter and she had presumed that she had died.

At her home in Awasa, Ethiopia, Mentwabe kissed a picture of Jolie and said: "This is to show I have no ill feelings towards her.

"I think my daughter is a very fortunate human being to be adopted by a world-famous lady. I wish them both all the success they deserve."