Mercy family 'supports Madonna adoption'

Family members of four-year-old Malawian Mercy James have reportedly expressed their support for Madonna's bid to adopt the child.

According to The Sun, Mercy James's uncle Peter Baneti said that the family would contest custody attempts from the girl's 24-year-old alleged father James Kambewa.

Baneti said: "This man didn't care about his girlfriend, Mercy's mother, when she needed him most. He didn't even come to see his baby."

Baneti had signed the original adoption papers filed by Madonna for the child.

Last week, a judge ruled that Madonna could not adopt Mercy James because she had not been resident in Malawi for the required minimum of 18-24 months.