Madonna Snubbed in Orphan Adoption Bid

Madonna has hit yet another roadblock in her bid to adopt an orphan from Malawi -- after the uncle of the tot she is said to want to take home yesterday declared: "We won't surrender her."

John Ngalande -- uncle to Mercy James, three -- has twice been visited by adoption officials.

He said, "They were telling us a famous lady is interested in adopting our girl. They told us how another Malawi kid has had his life transformed by her. I don't want that attention. We want an ordinary life."

John lives in Zomba city, 60 miles from Mercy's orphanage. He says she was put there after her mum died when she was nearly one "and there was nobody to buy milk". He added Mercy was the only reminder his mum, 60, has of her late daughter.

Malawi director of child welfare Penstone Kilembe confirmed officials from Madonna's Raising Malawi charity had visited Mercy "but there is nothing official".

He said relatives must be consulted -- but that special cases apply for abandoned children.

A source from Raising Malawi confirmed photos of girls, including Mercy, were sent to Madonna.

Last month a Malawi High Court judge blessed Madonna's 2006 adoption of David Banda, two.