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Madeleine parents 'stay positive' | Madeleine parents 'stay positive' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The parents of Madeleine McCann say they still hope for her safe return, six days after she went missing from a Portugal holiday complex. | |
In a statement, Kate and Gerry McCann said they were focusing their efforts and emotions on finding her. | |
Other family members have spoken out against criticism of the police made in the Portuguese and British media. | |
Three-year-old Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from an apartment in Praia da Luz six days ago. | |
The parents' statement, read out by Alex Woolfall, spokesman for the operator of the resort where the family were staying, said: "We are grateful to all of those currently taking part in the search for our daughter Madeleine. | |
Map of resort | Map of resort |
"At present, we are channelling all of our emotions and all of our efforts into the steps that are being taken to secure Madeleine's safe return." | "At present, we are channelling all of our emotions and all of our efforts into the steps that are being taken to secure Madeleine's safe return." |
MADELEINE APPEAL Madeleine's family have created a poster appealing for people with information to call Crimestoppers class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/09_05_07_madeleine.pdf">Download the poster [400 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here | |
Meanwhile, a sexually-motivated abduction is emerging as the main line of inquiry for police investigating the child's disappearance, BBC correspondent Matthew Presland said. | |
Police have also been handed CCTV footage showing a woman with a girl fitting Madeleine's description at a service station just a few miles from where she was abducted. | Police have also been handed CCTV footage showing a woman with a girl fitting Madeleine's description at a service station just a few miles from where she was abducted. |
The woman was said to be urging the girl to say "thank you" to staff, but the youngster had appeared reluctant. | The woman was said to be urging the girl to say "thank you" to staff, but the youngster had appeared reluctant. |
British child-abduction experts have flown to Portugal to join in the hunt. | |
'Very distraught' | |
Madeleine's grandparents, Brian and Susan Healey, have spoken of the strain that her parents are under. | |
Mrs Healey told Sky News that the couple, who are Catholic, were drawing strength from each other, prayers, support, sympathy and kindness. | |
Madeleine hunt in pictures Show reconsiders kidnap plot | |
"They can pull it together when they have to, but obviously there are times when they are very distraught," she said. | |
Mrs Healey added that the inexperience of the Portuguese police possibly led to mistakes initially, but debating what went wrong "doesn't achieve anything". | |
"We just have to move on and just pray that because of the publicity, for which we're grateful, somebody will come forward." | |
Madeleine is believed to have been taken from her bed last Thursday evening while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant. | Madeleine is believed to have been taken from her bed last Thursday evening while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant. |
They had been regularly checking on her and their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie, before she went missing. | They had been regularly checking on her and their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie, before she went missing. |
Mr Healey said that people who criticised the parents for leaving the children are "misguided and have got it wrong". | |
Their comments came after the British ambassador to Portugal, John Buck, defended the police search. | Their comments came after the British ambassador to Portugal, John Buck, defended the police search. |
He said he had been assured by Portuguese authorities that "everything possible" was being done to ensure the girl's safe return. | He said he had been assured by Portuguese authorities that "everything possible" was being done to ensure the girl's safe return. |
Police have faced criticism over their handling of the case | Police have faced criticism over their handling of the case |
On Tuesday, Portuguese officers said they had quizzed 100 people and searched 500 apartments. | On Tuesday, Portuguese officers said they had quizzed 100 people and searched 500 apartments. |
Portuguese police have also rejected local media claims that more effort has been put in than would have been made for a Portuguese child. | |
A Downing Street spokesman said these were difficult days for the family and for those trying to lead the investigation, and said help was being given wherever possible. | A Downing Street spokesman said these were difficult days for the family and for those trying to lead the investigation, and said help was being given wherever possible. |
Mark Warner Holidays, operator of the resort, said it has received more than 400 messages of support for the McCanns from 20 countries. | Mark Warner Holidays, operator of the resort, said it has received more than 400 messages of support for the McCanns from 20 countries. |
An online appeal to help find Madeleine has also been set up. | An online appeal to help find Madeleine has also been set up. |
The appeal, created by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and the Virtual Global Taskforce, is available in English, Portuguese and Spanish on www.ceop.gov.uk. | The appeal, created by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and the Virtual Global Taskforce, is available in English, Portuguese and Spanish on www.ceop.gov.uk. |
Crimestoppers have also set up an international number - +44 1883 731 336 - which people with information can call anonymously. | Crimestoppers have also set up an international number - +44 1883 731 336 - which people with information can call anonymously. |
The complex where Madeleine disappeared | The complex where Madeleine disappeared |
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