Madonna, Guy Ritchie divorce plans confirmed

London: US pop singer Madonna and British film director Guy Ritchie have agreed to get divorced, the singer's spokeswoman in London said on Wednesday.

The announcement of the couple's decision to split ends months of speculation about their relationship.

"Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after 7-l/2 years of marriage," Madonna's representatives in New York and London said in a statement.

"They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time. A final settlement has not been agreed upon yet."

The couple have a son, Rocco, who was several months old on their wedding day in December 2000. In 2006 Madonna applied to adopt David Banda, a boy from Malawi whose mother died shortly after his birth. The adoption was approved by a court in Malawi in May.

Madonna also has a daughter, Lourdes, from an earlier relationship. She was married once before, to actor Sean Penn, in the 1980s.