Madonna denies adopting baby in Malawi

Pop superstar Madonna has denied she adopted a one-year-old boy in Malawi on Wednesday.

The Material Girl arrived in the African country's capital city Lilongwe early yesterday morning before driving to an unknown location.

The 48-year-old was reported to have selected the orphaned baby from a group of 12 children specially selected by officials prior to her visit.

Malawi has said to have waived its ban on foreign nationals adopting children for the singer.

News agency Reuters quoted government spokeswoman Adrina Michiela as saying: "She asked us to identify boys only, which we have done after visiting four orphanages in Lilongwe."

However, Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg says: "I can confirm Madonna is in Malawi on a private visit.

"She is building an orphanage and child care centre and is involved in other initiatives geared toward helping children orphaned by AIDS through the Raising Malawi organization.

"She has not adopted a baby despite reports that she has."