Madonna began her bid to adopt a second child from the African country of Malawi over a year ago, her publicist has said.

Liz Rosenberg said the singer had enjoyed an “instant and profound” connection with her prospective adoptee, four-year-old Chifundo (Mercy) James.

“Madonna's desire to adopt Mercy is totally heartfelt,” Rosenberg told Reuters.

A judge will decide on Friday whether or not to give Madonna an 18-month interim order to adopt James from a local orphanage.

The singer has been widely criticised by charities and human rights organisations, who claim the star shouldn't be allowed to take the child from the country.

She has also been accused of manipulating local adoption rules to speed up the process.

But Rosenberg said: "She is not skirting any legal issues in her application to adopt this child and is looking to provide a loving family environment and the best education and health care possible for a child who has been in an orphanage since her birth.”

The adoption bid comes four years after the singer's much publicised adoption of Malawian David Banda from the same Malawian orphanage.

In an recent interview with the Malawian newspaper, Nation, the singer said that locals had advised her to consider another adoption.

(by Jason Gregory)