Madonna tearfully defends Malawi adoption

STUNG by critics, a tearful Madonna said the father of the African boy she adopted knew that he was signing away his son permanently, despite his comments that he thought she was looking after him temporarily.

The star spoke out in a TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, which was broadcast in the US yesterday.

Audience members said Madonna told the chat show host that she plans to take 13-month-old David Banda back to Malawi once or twice a year and wants him to become a spokesman for the country.