Baby David Banda, whose mother died soon after his birth, had been cared for at an orphan care centre in Mchinji, but is soon to leave the village near the Zambian border for a new life with the world's highest-earning female pop star and her film-director husband.

The infant's father, who has given the adoption his blessing, said today that he has met Madonna and Ritchie and that the couple have promised to bring his son back to visit when he grows older.

"They are a lovely couple. She asked me many questions. She and her husband seem happy with David. I am happy for him. Madonna promised me that as the child grows she will bring him back to visit," he said.

Madonna and Ritchie already have a son, Rocco, 5, and the singer also has a daughter, Lourdes, 9. Madonna arrived in Malawi earlier this month to help Aids orphans and amid rumours that she was going to adopt a child. The pop star has made no comment to reporters since her arrival, though she has made several public appearances.

Malawian law does not allow for inter-country adoptions, and generally requires people who want to adopt to spend 18 months being evaluated by Malawian child welfare workers. But it seems even this is no obstacle for the Material Girl after Malawian officials, who refused to elaborate, indicated that such restrictions would be waived for the couple.

Thomson Ligowe, Assistant High Court Register, said that Judge Andrew Nyirenda had "just given out an interim order" allowing the pop star and her film director husband Guy Ritchie to take David. The father, Yohame Banda, said he was happy for his son and pleased with the celebrity couple who wants to be his parents.

Penston Kilimbe, director of child welfare services in the Ministry of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services, had said earlier that Madonna and Ritchie filed adoption papers before a judge at the Lilongwe High Court. "They have followed the normal processes. This has been going on for some time. Now this is the completion point," he said.

Madonna's charity Raising Malawi is setting up an orphan care centre to provide food, education and shelter for up to 4,000 children. It will have projects based on Kabbalah, Judaism's mystical sect, of which the 48-year-old singer is most high-profile devotee.

Malawi is among the poorest countries in the world, with rampant disease and hunger, aggravated by periodic droughts and crop failure..

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