Madonna seen in New York in this October 18, 2005 file photo. Madonna defended her decision to adopt a one-year-old Malawian boy on Tuesday, after the child was flown to London overnight to a life of luxury with one of the world's most famous couples.. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Keith BedfordBy Kate Kelland and Peter Graff
LONDON (Reuters) - Madonna defended her decision to adopt a one-year-old Malawian boy on Tuesday, after the child was flown to London overnight to a life of luxury with one of the world's most famous couples.
In her first comments since her decision to adopt baby David Banda sparked global media hype, the American singer and mother of two said she wanted to save one child from a life of poverty in a country with a million orphans.
She brushed off accusations she had cut legal corners, saying she would go through the process "like anybody else".
The 13-month-old baby, wearing a blue and orange baseball cap, was carried off a flight from South Africa by a female assistant who quickly covered his head with a coat to shield him from cameras.
Three armed police officers and airport officials escorted the party through Heathrow's Terminal 1 and out of a back door to a Mercedes, which drove them away.
The silver car with blacked-out windows later arrived at Madonna's central London home, speeding into a rear garage.
"We have gone about the adoption procedure according to the law like anyone else who adopts a child. Reports to the contrary are totally inaccurate," the singer, 48, said in an open letter released by her publicist.
"After learning that there were over one million orphans in Malawi, it was my wish to open up our home and help one child escape an extreme life of hardship, poverty and in many cases death, as well as expand our family."
RULES WAIVED
Madonna is hoping to make David a brother to her 10-year-old daughter Lourdes, and her son, Rocco, who is six.
Malawian authorities waived local rules to grant an interim adoption on Monday, prompting charges from rights groups that Madonna and her husband, film director Guy Ritchie, used their status to bypass normal rules.
Malawian law bans adoptions by non-residents, but officials are granting an exemption to Madonna. Malawian courts will have 18 months to evaluate the new parents.
Around 50 rights groups have filed court documents asking for an injunction allowing them to block the adoption, arguing that the celebrity couple may have flouted normal procedures.
"These laws are in place for a reason -- to protect the child. It doesn't matter who it is, the law is paramount and the interests of the child are paramount," Paul Dimmick of charity EveryChild told Reuters.
The baby leaves behind his home in a dilapidated orphanage near the Zambian border. The boy's mother died after she gave birth to him, according to media reports. His father, Yohane, is alive but has told interviewers he lacks the funds to raise him.
Madonna and her husband arrived in Malawi on Oct. 4 on what was described as a humanitarian trip, and left last Friday. She spent most of the trip visiting orphanages to draw attention to the plight of children, many of whose parents died of AIDS.
The singer has promised to donate about $3 million to the campaign to help the children via the charity Raising Malawi.
In addition to two homes in Britain, Madonna also has a home in Beverly Hills in the United States.
(Additional reporting by Steve Meller)