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Wednesday, 1 April 2009

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Madonna: I'm not using fame to fast-track adoption

Singer’s rep says she is following the rules

Madonna divorced Guy Ritchie in November 2008

Madonna has broken her silence over her new adoption.

The singer, 50, is in the process of adopting four-year-old Mercy James from Malawi.

But she’s been accused by some human rights activist of using her fame to bend the rules.

‘The adoption process for Mercy began over a year ago when Madonna met her on one of her visits to Malawi,’ reads a statement from her rep Liz Rosenberg.

‘The connection was instant and profound. Madonna's desire to adopt Mercy is totally heartfelt. She is not skirting any legal issues in her application to adopt this child.’

Madonna’s director pal Ben Fellows, 34, has also defended her.

‘She told me she thought it was very important that David had a sister, she had unconditional love to give another child and was going to jump through hoops to get her,’ he tells the Daily Mirror.

‘She knew exactly what she was walking into. She was well aware that people would start sniping about it.

'She sent me an email just before she left for Malawi and signed it off “Let the storm commence!”’

Yesterday, Madonna, who adopted David Banda, 3, from Malawi in November 2006, and kids Lourdes, 12, and Rocco, 8, were snapped for the first time with Mercy.

She will find out the result of her adoption application on Friday.

SEE PICTURES Madonna with Mercy James here>>

SEE PICTURES Madonna lands in Malawi>>

SEE VIDEO Madonna attends adoption hearing>>

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