Malawi government backs Madonna adoption

The Malawian government has announced that it is backing Madonna's attempts to adopt a second child from the country.

Speaking to Reuters, Information Minister Patricia Kaliati said that the African nation was grateful to the singer for "supporting our children".

"Madonna has been good to us, she is supporting over 25,000 orphans in this country and she has proved that she can take care of [adopted Malawian son] David," she said.

"Very few rich and famous people can take time to fly all the way to Malawi to support our children - we support her adoption process."

However, the star has faced criticism from African human rights groups who have accused her of using her fame to fast-track the legal process, an allegation which she has strongly denied.

Madonna, 50, is expected to learn later today whether her attempt to secure an interim adoption of four-year-old Chifundo 'Mercy' James has been successful. Earlier this week, a lawyer for the star insisted that there was no law in Malawi that could prevent the adoption going ahead.