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The
parents of a three-year-old girl feared abducted in Portugal have
made a fresh appeal for information that could lead to her safe
return.
Doctors Gerry and Kate McCann, from Leicestershire, also said they
appreciated the "significant efforts" being made to find Madeleine.
Portuguese police say they have a suspect in mind and believe the
toddler is still alive and in the area.
She vanished from a holiday apartment while her parents were at a
restaurant.
The McCanns were on holiday at Mark Warner's Ocean Club in the Algarve resort
of Praia da Luz when Madeleine disappeared on Thursday.
Speaking outside their apartment with his wife, Mr McCann said: "We
have no further information regarding the investigation but
appreciate the significant effort everyone is making on our behalf.
"We would again like to appeal for any information, however small,
that may lead to the safe return of Madeleine."
In a statement on Friday Mr McCann made a first appeal for help and
spoke of his family's "anguish and despair".
Prayers will be said in churches in Praia Da Luz on Sunday for the
safe return of the girl.
Artist's impression
In the first official briefing on the case on Saturday, Guilhermino
Encarnacao, director of the judicial police in the Faro region, said
officers were working on the assumption Madeleine was being held
between 3km and 5km (about two to three miles) from the resort.
He said police had taken about 30 calls from potential witnesses and
have created an artist's impression of a suspect.
Responding to criticism that the police had been slow to respond, Mr
Encarnacao said officers arrived at the scene 10 minutes after being
alerted to the disappearance.
An investigation unit began work within 30 minutes, he added.
Relatives have flown to the
Algarve
to be with the couple, from Rothley, who were holidaying with their
three children.
Window opened
The Ocean Club resort offers a creche service but the couple decided
to leave Madeleine and two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie sleeping
in the apartment while they went to a nearby restaurant.
They had taken turns to return to check on their children.
Madeleine, who turns four next Friday, was last seen by her father
at about 2100 local time.
When Mrs McCann went to check on her about an hour later, she found
the bedroom's outside shutter and window had been opened and her
daughter missing.
Resort staff and guests helped the McCanns search the complex
grounds into Friday morning and police were notified.
Pictures of Madeleine have been widely distributed, and ports and
the Spanish police put on alert.
British Ambassador John Buck, who is with the McCanns in the Algarve, said
they had been joined by three family liaison officers from
Leicestershire Police.
Mr McCann's sister Philomena criticised the Portuguese police for
initially "playing down" their response to the disappearance.
But she said the family was elated to hear police believed Madeleine
was still alive.
"There was a distinct feeling of elation, you know - but it's been a
while since we actually heard it and it's really important to keep
your emotions in check," she said. |
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