Page last updated at 14:50 GMT, Friday, 11 April 2008 15:50 UK

Malawi court date set for Madonna

David Banda and Madonna
Madonna brought David Banda back from Malawi in 2006

Pop star Madonna is expected to appear in court in Malawi this month for a ruling on whether she can adopt a child from the southern African country.

The case is "tentatively" scheduled for 22 to 25 April, a court clerk said.

Earlier this month the Malawian government recommended that the 49-year-old star should be allowed to adopt David Banda, who is aged two.

The boy has lived with Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie since October 2006 after they met him in an orphanage.

The adoption hearing was scheduled to take place in Malawi this week.

But the singer's lawyers asked for it to be delayed until the end of the month because she had another engagement in the US.

Last year critics of Madonna alleged that she had used her celebrity status to "fast-track" the adoption and get around Malawian laws.

However, the star strenuously denied that this was the case.


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