This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6636869.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Police 'step up Madeleine search' | Police 'step up Madeleine search' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Portuguese police are stepping up their efforts to find Madeleine McCann, who has been missing for five days from a holiday apartment in the Algarve. | Portuguese police are stepping up their efforts to find Madeleine McCann, who has been missing for five days from a holiday apartment in the Algarve. |
| Officers said they had quizzed 100 people and searched 500 apartments. | Officers said they had quizzed 100 people and searched 500 apartments. |
| British ambassador to Portugal, John Buck, said police were doing everything they could to find the girl, following some criticism of the investigation. | British ambassador to Portugal, John Buck, said police were doing everything they could to find the girl, following some criticism of the investigation. |
| Three-year-old Madeleine, from Leicestershire, disappeared from a resort in Praia da Luz on Thursday. | Three-year-old Madeleine, from Leicestershire, disappeared from a resort in Praia da Luz on Thursday. |
| 'Very grateful' | 'Very grateful' |
| Mr Buck said he had met Madeleine's parents Gerry and Kate again on Monday, and was continuing to support consular staff in the Algarve. | Mr Buck said he had met Madeleine's parents Gerry and Kate again on Monday, and was continuing to support consular staff in the Algarve. |
| He said additional British experts arrived on Monday to work with the Portuguese on the case. | He said additional British experts arrived on Monday to work with the Portuguese on the case. |
| Mr Buck said: "This is, and must remain, a Portuguese police investigation. As you know, the Portuguese police operate under Portuguese law, and Portuguese law puts constraints on what they can say publicly and the information they can release." | Mr Buck said: "This is, and must remain, a Portuguese police investigation. As you know, the Portuguese police operate under Portuguese law, and Portuguese law puts constraints on what they can say publicly and the information they can release." |
| He said he had been in close touch with Portuguese cabinet ministers, the prime minister's office and the police. name="link"> | |
| Map of resort | |
| "They all assure me that everything possible is being done to ensure the safe return of Madeleine," he said. | "They all assure me that everything possible is being done to ensure the safe return of Madeleine," he said. |
| Mr Buck added: "I, and I know Kate and Gerry, with whom I've just been speaking for the past hour, are very grateful for their efforts." | Mr Buck added: "I, and I know Kate and Gerry, with whom I've just been speaking for the past hour, are very grateful for their efforts." |
| 'Great concern' | 'Great concern' |
| Portuguese television had reported that a man and a child matching Madeleine's description were seen driving off in a car from the town of Nelas, about 300 miles (483km) north of Praia da Luz. | Portuguese television had reported that a man and a child matching Madeleine's description were seen driving off in a car from the town of Nelas, about 300 miles (483km) north of Praia da Luz. |
| However, police - who are following up 350 pieces of information - said the sighting was a case of mistaken identity. | However, police - who are following up 350 pieces of information - said the sighting was a case of mistaken identity. |
| But Olegario de Sousa, of the Portuguese police, said: "It was not Madeleine. It was a child who looks like Madeleine, but she is a child who lives in the area." | But Olegario de Sousa, of the Portuguese police, said: "It was not Madeleine. It was a child who looks like Madeleine, but she is a child who lives in the area." |
| Madeleine has not been seen since Thursday night | Madeleine has not been seen since Thursday night |
| He said officers were maintaining a "high level" of effort to find Madeleine, as well as gathering evidence about her disappearance. | He said officers were maintaining a "high level" of effort to find Madeleine, as well as gathering evidence about her disappearance. |
| The force had been criticised for not keeping the public informed, but officials have insisted that Portuguese law forbids police from releasing information about a live investigation. | The force had been criticised for not keeping the public informed, but officials have insisted that Portuguese law forbids police from releasing information about a live investigation. |
| Mr Sousa's press conference, where he listed the action taken by his officers, came after intense pressure from the media. | Mr Sousa's press conference, where he listed the action taken by his officers, came after intense pressure from the media. |
| He told assembled journalists than an area with a radius of 15km (10 miles) around the Algarve resort had been searched - along with hundreds of nearby apartments. | He told assembled journalists than an area with a radius of 15km (10 miles) around the Algarve resort had been searched - along with hundreds of nearby apartments. |
| Antonio Santana Carlos, the country's UK ambassador, said the case was of "great concern" to Portugal and asked people to trust the police. | Antonio Santana Carlos, the country's UK ambassador, said the case was of "great concern" to Portugal and asked people to trust the police. |
| Footballers including England captain John Terry and Portuguese players Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Ferreira, who both play in England, have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. | Footballers including England captain John Terry and Portuguese players Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Ferreira, who both play in England, have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. |
| A set of pyjamas identical to the ones Madeleine was wearing | A set of pyjamas identical to the ones Madeleine was wearing |
| Meanwhile, villagers in Rothley, where the McCanns are from, have held a silent vigil to show support for Madeleine. | |
| Staff at Leicester's three hospitals also joined in prayer for the McCann family. | Staff at Leicester's three hospitals also joined in prayer for the McCann family. |
| Madeleine's father is a consultant cardiologist at the city's Glenfield Hospital and her mother is a GP. | Madeleine's father is a consultant cardiologist at the city's Glenfield Hospital and her mother is a GP. |
| The McCann family have confirmed she was wearing white pyjama bottoms with a small floral design and a short-sleeved pink top with a picture of Winnie the Pooh character Eeyore when she disappeared. | The McCann family have confirmed she was wearing white pyjama bottoms with a small floral design and a short-sleeved pink top with a picture of Winnie the Pooh character Eeyore when she disappeared. |
| She is believed to have been taken from her bed while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant. | She is believed to have been taken from her bed while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant. |
| They were regularly checking on her and their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie. | They were regularly checking on her and their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie. |
| The complex where Madeleine disappeared | |
| Return to top |