BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Even after her application for adopting second child from Malawi was rejected by a court over residency requirement, pop singer Madonna told an African newspaper Sunday she still wanted to adopt Chifundo James.

    "I want to provide a home, education and health care to the four-year-old Chifundo James, whose name translates as Mercy," the Nation quoted the 50-year-old singer as saying.

    "And it's my hope that she like David, will one day return to Malawi and help the people of their country," said Madonna in an email in reponse to questions from the newspaper.

    "Though I have been advised that I cannot publicly discuss the pending appeal regarding my desire to adopt Mercy, I do want to say how much I appreciate the level of support that I have received from the people of Malawi and my friends around the world."

    The singer lost an appeal against a High Court decision refusing her bid to adopt Mercy James because of a requirement that prospective parents be resident in the southern African state for 18 to 24 months.

    Madonna's lawyer has lodged an appeal against the court's ruling, however, no date has yet been set for a court hearing.

    Madonna's attempt to adopt Mercy stirred up controversy among rights activists who accused the actress of child "kidnapping". They claimed Madonna used her fame and money to by-pass the official adoption procedures when she adopted David from Malawi in 2008.

    (Agencies)