In her first public comments since her decision to adopt baby David Banda sparked global media hype, the American singer and mother of two said she wanted to save one child from a life of poverty in a country with a million orphans.

She brushed off accusations she had cut legal corners, saying she would go through the process "like anybody else."

The 13-month-old baby, wearing a blue and orange baseball cap, was carried off a flight from South Africa by a female assistant who quickly covered his head with a coat to shield him from cameras.

Three armed police officers and airport officials escorted the party through Heathrow's Terminal 1 and out of a back door to a Mercedes, which drove them away.

The silver car with blacked-out windows later arrived at Madonna's central London home, speeding into a rear garage.

"We have gone about the adoption procedure according to the law like anyone else who adopts a child. Reports to the contrary are totally inaccurate," the singer, 48, said in an open letter released by her publicist.

"After learning that there were over one million orphans in Malawi, it was my wish to open up our home and help one child escape an extreme life of hardship, poverty and in many cases death, as well as expand our family."

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