Madonna Madonna's request to adopt a Malawian girl has been rejected.

The 50-year-old star had been hoping to make a child named Mercy James part of her family.

She flew to Malawi at the weekend to file her application for the adoption.

But now it's been refused by a Malawian court, following a closed-door hearing.

"I must have to decline to grant the application to Madonna,"  judge Esmie Chondo said in the ruling.

"I must confess that there's a gripping temptation to throw caution to the wind and grant an adoption in the hope that there will be a difference in the life of just one child," she continued, before adding:

"It should be borne in mind that inter-country adoptions may not be and are not the only solution."

Madge had earlier expressed her desire to adopt another child from the African state, telling the country's Nation newspaper:

"Many people - especially our Malawian friends - say that David should have a Malawian brother or sister. It's something I have been considering."

But the singer faced an outcry of criticism in her attempts to adopt another child from the country, with a spokesperson for kids' charity Save The Children saying:

"It is vital children are cared for by their own community, ideally by their own family."Madonna with David and Lourdes in 2007

Madge was forced to defend herself against accusations that she was fast-tracking the usual adoption procedures, both in her last adoption of son David Banda in 2006, and in her latest bid to obtain a sibling for him.

Her spokeswoman Liz Rosenburg said: "Madonna is committed to maintaining an ongoing relationship with David's Malawian roots."

As well as David, Madonna has two biological children - Rocco, her son with former husband Guy Ritchie, and Lourdes, whose father is Carlos Leon.

Her divorce from Guy Ritchie was finalised in November 2008.