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Church services for abducted girl Church services for abducted girl
(40 minutes later)
Prayers are being said in Portugal for the safe return of Madeleine McCann, the three-year-old British girl feared abducted from her holiday apartment. Prayers have been said in Portugal for the safe return of Madeleine McCann, the three-year-old British girl feared abducted from her holiday apartment.
Church services are being held in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz where the Leicestershire toddler was seized.Church services are being held in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz where the Leicestershire toddler was seized.
Her parents were among the congregation at a Catholic mass and tourists and British expats will attend at a village church later for an Anglican service. Her parents were among the congregation at a Catholic mass and tourists and British expats will attend the village church later for an Anglican service.
Portuguese police say they have a suspect and believe Madeleine is alive. Gerry McCann said the service had given them "strength, courage and hope".
Her parents, meanwhile, made a fresh appeal for information on Saturday evening. Speaking outside the church, he told reporters: "We continue to hope for the best possible outcome from this for us and for Madeleine."
Doctors Gerry and Kate McCann, from Rothley, said they appreciated the "significant efforts" being made to find Madeleine. A tearful Kate McCann said: "Gerry and I would just like to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to everybody, but particularly the local community here, who have offered so much support.
"We couldn't have asked for more. I just wanted to say thank you. Please continue to pray for Madeleine."
Open shutter
Portuguese police say they have a suspect and believe their daughter is alive.
On Saturday evening, doctors Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley, made a fresh appeal for information.
They said they appreciated the "significant efforts" being made to find Madeleine.
Their daughter who went missing on Thursday from their apartment at the Mark Warner Ocean Club while they were at a nearby restaurant.Their daughter who went missing on Thursday from their apartment at the Mark Warner Ocean Club while they were at a nearby restaurant.
We all just stopped what we were doing Bar owner James Wright Volunteers join in search In pictures: Madeleine search We all just stopped what we were doing Bar owner James Wright Volunteers join in search In pictures: Madeleine search
The resort offers a creche service but the couple decided to leave Madeleine and two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie sleeping in the apartment.The resort offers a creche service but the couple decided to leave Madeleine and two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie sleeping in the apartment.
They had been taking turns to return to the block to check on their children.They had been taking turns to return to the block to check on their children.
Mrs McCann found the outside shutter and window to Madeleine's room had been opened and her daughter missing shortly before 2200 local time.Mrs McCann found the outside shutter and window to Madeleine's room had been opened and her daughter missing shortly before 2200 local time.
Mr McCann said: "We have no further information regarding the investigation but appreciate the significant effort everyone is making on our behalf.Mr McCann said: "We have no further information regarding the investigation but appreciate the significant effort everyone is making on our behalf.
Madeleine's parents were among those attending the serviceMadeleine's parents were among those attending the service
"We would again like to appeal for any information, however small, that may lead to the safe return of Madeleine.""We would again like to appeal for any information, however small, that may lead to the safe return of Madeleine."
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.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.He said police had taken about 30 calls from potential witnesses and have created an artist's impression of a suspect.