Madonna leaves Malawi, heads to U.K.

LILONGWE, Malawi, April 6 (UPI) -- U.S. pop star Madonna has left the African country of Malawi and headed to London to celebrate Passover, People.com reported.

The singer was in Malawi trying to adopt 3-year-old Mercy James, but her request was denied Friday, reportedly because Madonna didn't meet a residency requirement.

People.com said the recording artist filed an appeal in the adoption case and left the country Sunday. The little girl, who reportedly had been spending time with Madonna at the hotel where she was staying, has gone back to the orphanage where the singer met her.

"We are ready with our grounds challenging (High Court Judge Esme) Chombo's ruling," Madonna's Malawian attorney Alan Chinula told People magazine Sunday.

The magazine said on its Web site that Madonna is believed to have headed to London -- where she lived until recently with her now-ex-husband Guy Ritchie -- to celebrate the Jewish holiday.