Madonna Walks With Her Daughters Lordes & Mercy James

Madonna has hit back at criticism of her plans to adopt Malawian orphan Mercy James, insisting she had followed all the 'standard procedures' required.

Her defensive statement comes after the singer was photographed with the little girl for the first time during a walk in the grounds of the Home of Hope orphanage in Mchinji.

The four-year-old is seen looking anxiously at the cameraman as she holds the hand of her new 'sister' Lourdes, with her future mother standing just inches away dressed in a T-shirt, sarong and panama hat.

Madonna and her three children Lourdes, Rocco and Malawi-born David have been in the impoverished southern African country since Sunday.

The Material Girl appeared in court on Monday in her bid to convince judges of her suitability to adopt Mercy, whose 18-year-old mother died five days after giving birth to her, and is expecting to hear the ruling on the matter on Friday.

Her plan to adopt Mercy has been met with a storm of controversy, just as her adoption of David, whose father Yohane Banda is still alive, did in October 2006.