Johannesburg/Lilongwe - US popstar Madonna has left Malawi after having failed in her bid to adopt another child in the south- east African country, according to media reports in South Africa and Britain on Monday.

The 50-year-old and her children took off in her private jet in a quiet part of the airport in the capital Lilongwe on Sunday. She had been shielded from the media by security guards, South African radio reported.

Madonna later landed in London where she handed her son Rocco as well as her adoptive child David Banda over to her ex-husband Guy Richie, 40, according to British media.

She and her daughter Lourdes then went to their apartment in London while Ritchie and the two boys flew to his country home, the reports said.

Madonna and film director Richie were divorced at the end of 2008. Photos published after the singer's trip to Malawi showed the singer looking quite depressed.

In a surprise move Friday, the High Court in Lilongwe turned down Madonna's application for an interim 18-month custody order for Chifundo (Mercy) James, three years after she was given custody of the Malawi-born infant Banda.

Judge Esmie Chombo told Madonna she could not adopt the 4-year-old because she has not been resident in Malawi for 18 months as required by the law. (dpa)