Madonna not adopting girl from Malawi

NEW YORK, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Madonna's publicist says the U.S. pop star is not adopting a 3-year-old girl from Malawi, despite reports to the contrary.

The recording artist, who has two biological children, had previously adopted a baby boy named David from the country.

Her representative told Usmagazine.com she is not, however, in the process of adopting a little girl named Mercy James as has been reported.

"Madonna's representatives have been visiting the girl," Britain's Sun newspaper quoted Malawian Adoption Minister Penstone Kilembe as saying. "The adoption is now advanced -- all the government is waiting for is Madonna to forward the petition of adoption formalities. Then Mercy will be able to leave the country for a new life."

The Sun also reported Madonna had stopped the adoption proceedings when her marriage to British filmmaker Guy Ritchie went through a rough patch.

"Madonna has not made an attempt to adopt this baby earlier this year or now," the singer's publicist Liz Rosenberg told Usmagazine.com in countering the British newspaper's account.

Rosenberg also confirmed to Usmagazine.com a quote she gave CelebTV.com: "There is no truth to this rumor. It's an old one -- wasn't true then or now. Madonna is starting her tour in a week."