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| Madeleine parents 'stay positive' | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The parents of missing Madeleine McCann say they are still hoping for the safe return of their daughter, six days after she was last seen. | |
| In a statement read out by a holiday firm representative, Kate and Gerry McCann said they were focusing their efforts and emotions on finding her. | |
| Earlier, Madeleine's uncle spoke out against criticism of the police and called for a focus on the search. | |
| John McCann, also in the Algarve, said: "Everybody's working to the same end." | |
| Three-year-old Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing from an apartment in Praia da Luz six days ago. | Three-year-old Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing from an apartment in Praia da Luz six days ago. |
| The parents' statement, read out by Alex Woolfall, a representative of 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. | |
| "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." | |
| Meanwhile, a sexually motivated abduction is emerging as the main line of inquiry for police investigating Madeleine's disappearance, BBC correspondent Matthew Presland said. | |
| Map of resort | Map of resort |
| British child abduction experts have flown to Portugal to join in the hunt. | |
| On Wednesday, there was growing irritation in British papers over the investigation, with the Daily Mirror calling detectives "clueless" and the Daily Express claiming the Algarve police lacked experience. | |
| Asked to comment on the reports, Mr McCann, from Glasgow, told BBC TV's Breakfast: "I don't think that's a useful avenue to explore. | Asked to comment on the reports, Mr McCann, from Glasgow, told BBC TV's Breakfast: "I don't think that's a useful avenue to explore. |
| "I would rather take it forward in a different way and get people saying 'let's move on, what can we do now?'. And I think Gerry and Kate [Madeleine's parents] want us to focus like that as well." | "I would rather take it forward in a different way and get people saying 'let's move on, what can we do now?'. And I think Gerry and Kate [Madeleine's parents] want us to focus like that as well." |
| During Mr McCann's time in Portugal, he said, there had been a change in the family's outlook. | During Mr McCann's time in Portugal, he said, there had been a change in the family's outlook. |
| She is a wee darling, a really fantastic young girl John McCann, Madeleine's uncle | She is a wee darling, a really fantastic young girl John McCann, Madeleine's uncle |
| They have gone from feeling "devastated and helpless" to being buoyed by all the support they have received and were feeling more positive about the things that could be done to find Madeleine, he said. | They have gone from feeling "devastated and helpless" to being buoyed by all the support they have received and were feeling more positive about the things that could be done to find Madeleine, he said. |
| "My brother's a fantastic guy, and Kate is a wonderful woman - they're great for coming up with positive ideas and they're mobilising contacts all over the place to get as much information and as many leads fed back," he said. | "My brother's a fantastic guy, and Kate is a wonderful woman - they're great for coming up with positive ideas and they're mobilising contacts all over the place to get as much information and as many leads fed back," he said. |
| He went on to describe his niece as quick, bright and energetic. | He went on to describe his niece as quick, bright and energetic. |
| "She is such fun. She can be a bit stroppy at times - but what interesting kid can't be? She is a wee darling, a really fantastic young girl," he said. | "She is such fun. She can be a bit stroppy at times - but what interesting kid can't be? She is a wee darling, a really fantastic young girl," he said. |
| 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. |
| Police have faced criticism over their handling of the case | Police have faced criticism over their handling of the case |
| 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. |
| Madeleine's grandfather, Brian Healey, said that people who criticised the parents for leaving the children are "misguided and have got it wrong". | Madeleine's grandfather, Brian Healey, said that people who criticised the parents for leaving the children are "misguided and have got it wrong". |
| Mr Healey, who has just returned from the Algarve, said: "It was just one of those things that happened .... to be 'holier-than-thou' is a bit naughty," | Mr Healey, who has just returned from the Algarve, said: "It was just one of those things that happened .... to be 'holier-than-thou' is a bit naughty," |
| He added that Kate and Gerry McCann were "absolutely beautiful parents, and described Madeleine as "extra special, bright and funny with a personality all of her own." | He added that Kate and Gerry McCann were "absolutely beautiful parents, and described Madeleine as "extra special, bright and funny with a personality all of her own." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Two British experts have also been drafted in to work on the investigation. | Two British experts have also been drafted in to work on the investigation. |
| Madeleine hunt in pictures | Madeleine hunt in pictures |
| Mr Buck said: "This is, and must remain, a Portuguese police investigation. | 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." | "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." |
| Meanwhile, Antonio Santana Carlos, the Portuguese ambassador in London, said he understood the frustrations among parts of the media with the investigation, but added that police were doing their best. | Meanwhile, Antonio Santana Carlos, the Portuguese ambassador in London, said he understood the frustrations among parts of the media with the investigation, but added that police were doing their best. |
| "It's very difficult to deal with these situations because even if you find the most prompt reaction, perhaps that is not enough." | "It's very difficult to deal with these situations because even if you find the most prompt reaction, perhaps that is not enough." |
| He rejected criticisms that the investigation took too long to get started. | He rejected criticisms that the investigation took too long to get started. |
| Portuguese police have also rejected local media claims that more efforts have been put in than would have been made for a Portuguese child. | Portuguese police have also rejected local media claims that more efforts have 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 |
| Return to top | Return to top |