A man who claims to be the father of a four-year-old girl that pop star Madonna hopes to adopt says he wants to raise the girl himself. James Kambewa said that he has never met his supposed daughter and that he thought she had died along with her mother, who was Kambewas then-girlfriend.

In an Early Show world exclusive, Kambewa tells correspondent Priya David, "I do not want my baby to be adopted because I want to take care of her and I'm capable to take care of my baby ... Mercy, she is a Malawian  so [I] need her to grow as a Malawian, as well with our culture." (Source: CBS)

Madonna's adoption bid was initially rejected by a Malawian court because she hadn't met the country-s residency requirement of 12 to 18 months before adopting. Court officials, and some human rights groups, have expressed concern over the possible bending of the rules of international adoption, saying it puts children at greater risk of being trafficked.

Labels: international, adoption rights

Posted By: Aspen/CRC