Lilongwe, 3 April-(ANA)-A Malawian court has ruled that US pop star Madonna has failed in her bid to adopt a second child from the country.
"I must have to decline to grant the application to Madonna," judge Esmie Chondo said in a ruling following a closed-door hearing.
According to reports, the application has been rejected over residency rules.
Madonna was not in court to hear the ruling over Chifundo James, three. It is not clear if she will appeal against it.
The 50-year-old singer flew into the southern African state on Sunday and applied to adopt Chifundo James, whose name translates into English as Mercy, the following day.
The Associated Press news agency said Madonna's application had been rejected because of a requirement that prospective parents be resident in the southern African state for 18 to 24 months.
The rule was waived in 2006 when Madonna was allowed to take her adopted son, David Banda, to London before his adoption was finalised in 2008.(Ana)
