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The parents of Madeleine McCann are spending a second
weekend without their daughter, who disappeared from a Portuguese holiday
apartment on 3 May.
Mother Kate attended a church service in the
Algarve
village of Praia da Luz where prayers were said for
Madeleine.
On Saturday, Gerry McCann paid an emotional tribute to his daughter as the
family marked her fourth birthday.
Relatives have released posters drawing attention to a distinctive marking in
the youngster's right eye.
They hope that the picture - which clearly shows how Madeleine's pupil runs into
her blue-green iris - will make her easily recognisable.
Rewards totalling ?2.5m have been offered to anyone who can help with
information leading to the safe return of Madeleine, from Rothley in
Leicestershire.
Businessman Sir Richard Branson, footballer Wayne Rooney and children's author
JK Rowling are among those who have contributed.
Speaking at a special mass on Saturday, Kate and Gerry McCann called for people
to keep looking and praying for their daughter, but also acknowledged the huge
effort and resources being put into the search.
"Today we should be celebrating the fourth birthday of our daughter Madeleine,"
said Mr McCann.
"Instead we have had to remember what a normal, beautiful, vivacious, funny,
courageous and loving little girl we are missing today."
Madeleine's uncle, John McCann, praised the amount of support the family has
received from people in the
UK.
He told the BBC on Sunday: "The general response has been magnificent - the
wishes and the prayers that are coming in from all over the country has been
astounding."
He also said the family was overwhelmed by the support from the congregation and
the priest in the Algarve.
In the latest sign of solidarity, hundreds of Portuguese bikers are preparing to
ride the length of the country distributing posters of the missing girl.
Formal statements
The official ground search for Madeleine in the Algarve has ended, but police say
they still have significant leads to follow up.
The focus has shifted from a local search for Madeleine to an international
child abduction inquiry, amid suggestions she may have been taken out of Portugal.
Some of the nine people who were questioned on Thursday and Friday - mainly
family and friends of the McCanns - may be asked to make formal court
statements, BBC correspondent Alison Roberts said.
Police have said none of the people in the McCanns' close circle is a suspect.
Detectives are also continuing to cross-check CCTV footage of several cars with
witness statements in their efforts to identify a possible abductor, our
correspondent said.
Police have declined to confirm or deny reports about any possible leads, citing
Portuguese law.
The international number for Crime stoppers is +44 1883 731 336. People with
information about Madeleine can call anonymously. |
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