Mother 'backs' Jolie's adoption

The mother of an Ethiopian baby adopted by Angelina Jolie has said she was happy her daughter had found a new home with the actress.
Mentawbe Dawit denied media reports that she wanted two-year-old Zahara returned to Ethiopia.

"I have never disputed the adoption," she told the Reuters news agency. "It was something I never said."

Ms Dawit said her words had been twisted by "so-called journalists" who had told her they worked for Ms Jolie.

The agency which approved the adoption in 2005 has insisted it was "legal and irrevocable".

It said that at the time of the adoption, Zahara's grandmother sent a letter to the court which said the child's mother was dead.

'No ill feelings'

Ms Dawit, who lives in the southern city of Awasa, told Reuters she ran away from her home five months after giving birth because she had no food for her baby.

"I decided to flee rather than watch her die," she said.

Ms Dawit's mother searched for her, but concluded that she must have died and put Zahara up for adoption.

Reuters said that Ms Dawit kissed a photograph of the actress during its interview with her at her home.

"This is to show I have no ill feelings towards her," she said.

"I think my daughter is a very fortunate human being to be adopted by a world-famous lady. I wish them all the success they both deserve."

In 2002, Jolie, who also works as a goodwill ambassador for UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, adopted her first child, Maddox, from Cambodia.

Three years later Zahara was introduced to the family. Her partner Brad Pitt later applied to become their adoptive father.

Last year the couple celebrated the birth of their first biological daughter, Shiloh Nouvel, in Namibia.

In March, the actress adopted a three-year-old boy from Vietnam, Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt.