US pop diva Madonna on Monday filed papers with a Malawian court to adopt a second child while rights activists branded her a bully and accused her of using her influence to hasten the process.

A group of human rights activists lashed out at the star for trying to adopt from a country which has no laws on intra-country adoptions.

The singer and her bodyguards dodged a large crowd to enter the court through a private entrance for a brief hearing behind closed doors. The local judge is expected to rule on her request on Friday.

"The court adjourned the proceedings to Friday to give the judge enough time to write his ruling," assistant court registrar Thomson Ligowe told AFP.

The singer and actress jetted into the southern African state on Sunday accompanied by her 12-year-old daughter Lourdes and three-year-old David Banda, whom she adopted in 2006 after seeing him in a Malawian orphanage.

A court official told AFP Madonna was looking to adopt three-year-old Mercy James from an orphanage in southern Malawi after the star fell for the baby when she was barely a few months old during a visit in 2006.

Child activists angered

Her plans have angered child activists accused her of using her fame and wealth to fast-track the adoption process.

"She is behaving like a bully because she has money and status. She is trying to fast-track the process," Undule Mwakasungura, chairperson of the Malawi Human Rights Consultative Committee which represents 85 rights bodies, told reporters.

He said Madonna's bid to adopt the girl amounted to "child trafficking and kidnapping."

He said the committee would not take any legal action to stop the adoption, but added "Malawi is legalising child trafficking and indirectly contributing to child trafficking."

According to British media reports, the baby's grandmother is opposed to the adoption and wants custody of the girl when she is six.

The Save the Children charity last week stressed that the best place for a child was with their family in their home country.

"Most children in orphanages have one parent still living, or have an extended family that can care for them in the absence of their parents," spokesman Dominic Nutt said.

"Save The Children believes that international adoption should only be considered if the child is a genuine orphan, if all other alternatives in their own country have been genuinely exhausted."

David to see father

David was placed at a orphanage by his father Yohane after the death of her mother.

Last week Yohane said he had been told that he will be allowed to see his son during Madonna's visit to the country.

"I have been told by officials of Raising Malawi (a charity established by the singer after the adoption) that I will see my son. I am excited about it," David's biological father said.

The 50-year-old US star was initially granted a provisional 18-month custody, made permanent last May.

She had been quoted in local media saying she wanted David "to stay connected to his Malawi culture... to keep him closely connected to his cultural heritage."

It is yet to be seen how her recent divorce with her British film producer husband Guy Ritchie will affect the adoption process.

Malawi is one of the world's poorest nations, with more than half of the population of 12 million living on less than one dollar a day.

The world renowned singer has a personal fortune estimated at several hundred million dollars.

Since 2005, Malawi has been trying to reform its laws on adoption to allow foreigners and even locals to adopt children without difficulty.