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Madeleine police to search land Madeleine police to search land
(10 minutes later)
Police looking for missing Madeleine McCann are expected to search land after claims her body is buried nine miles from where she was abducted.Police looking for missing Madeleine McCann are expected to search land after claims her body is buried nine miles from where she was abducted.
Detectives in Portugal say they are investigating an anonymous letter and map sent to a Dutch newspaper.Detectives in Portugal say they are investigating an anonymous letter and map sent to a Dutch newspaper.
It strongly resembles another letter sent to the same newspaper last year, accurately pinpointing where two missing Belgian girls were buried. It resembles another letter sent to the same paper last year, pinpointing where two missing Belgian girls were buried.
Ch Insp Olegario de Sousa said officers were "checking the information". Ch Insp Olegario de Sousa said police were "checking the information" given about the British four-year-old.
The letter, sent to Dutch paper De Telegraaf, identifies an area of scrubland 15km (9.3 miles) from where the four-year-old vanished six weeks ago. The letter, sent to Dutch paper De Telegraaf, identifies an area of scrubland 15km (9.3 miles) from where Madeleine vanished six weeks ago.
Portuguese police have described the information and map as "vague".Portuguese police have described the information and map as "vague".
Around eight plain-clothed police officers visited the village of Arao, which is 15km from Praia da Luz, on Wednesday evening.Around eight plain-clothed police officers visited the village of Arao, which is 15km from Praia da Luz, on Wednesday evening.
They spent an hour and 20 minutes looking at fields and the surrounding area ahead of possible searches.They spent an hour and 20 minutes looking at fields and the surrounding area ahead of possible searches.
The BBC's Alison Roberts said police have promised to investigate the Dutch lead fully but have not given any details of what kind of resources they have for any ground searches on Thursday.The BBC's Alison Roberts said police have promised to investigate the Dutch lead fully but have not given any details of what kind of resources they have for any ground searches on Thursday.
The area they are focusing on is near a large reservoir whose surroundings were combed in the days after Madeleine's disappearance.The area they are focusing on is near a large reservoir whose surroundings were combed in the days after Madeleine's disappearance.
But locals say the country road that police stopped at on Wednesday is in an area which has not been searched before, our correspondent said.But locals say the country road that police stopped at on Wednesday is in an area which has not been searched before, our correspondent said.
'Everything necessary''Everything necessary'
The Madeleine letter pinpoints a dirt track north of Odiaxere in the Algarve, according to De Telegraaf.The Madeleine letter pinpoints a dirt track north of Odiaxere in the Algarve, according to De Telegraaf.
The paper said the letter claims Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, is buried "north of the road under branches and rocks, around six to seven metres off the road".The paper said the letter claims Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, is buried "north of the road under branches and rocks, around six to seven metres off the road".
Beside a cross and two question marks, the sender has written "vermoedelijke vindplaats Madeleine" - the place where Madeleine can probably be found.Beside a cross and two question marks, the sender has written "vermoedelijke vindplaats Madeleine" - the place where Madeleine can probably be found.
But Mr Sousa confirmed Portuguese police were aware of the map and were doing "everything necessary".But Mr Sousa confirmed Portuguese police were aware of the map and were doing "everything necessary".
He said: "There have been exchanges between Dutch police and us.He said: "There have been exchanges between Dutch police and us.
"The information indicated an area 15km from the place of the disappearance of the little child. It is not far from Praia da Luz. We are checking the information like we check everything in this case for importance.""The information indicated an area 15km from the place of the disappearance of the little child. It is not far from Praia da Luz. We are checking the information like we check everything in this case for importance."
Asked if a search would include digging, he replied: "If the information gives us a precise location where we can look, we will do it."Asked if a search would include digging, he replied: "If the information gives us a precise location where we can look, we will do it."
Similiarities investigatedSimiliarities investigated
Dutch police are studying similarities between the new letter and one received by De Telegraaf pointing to the whereabouts of Belgian step-sisters Stacey Lemmens, seven, and Nathalie Mahy, 10.Dutch police are studying similarities between the new letter and one received by De Telegraaf pointing to the whereabouts of Belgian step-sisters Stacey Lemmens, seven, and Nathalie Mahy, 10.
The girls were murdered in June 2006 after they disappeared from a late-night fair in the town of Liege.The girls were murdered in June 2006 after they disappeared from a late-night fair in the town of Liege.
On the day the letter was received, police found their bodies at the spot indicated on an enclosed map.On the day the letter was received, police found their bodies at the spot indicated on an enclosed map.
A convicted paedophile, Abdullah Ait Oud, is now on remand awaiting trial for murder.A convicted paedophile, Abdullah Ait Oud, is now on remand awaiting trial for murder.
Madeleine disappeared while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz on 3 May.Madeleine disappeared while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz on 3 May.
It is believed she was abducted from a holiday apartment while her parents ate at a nearby restaurant.It is believed she was abducted from a holiday apartment while her parents ate at a nearby restaurant.
Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have travelled across Europe in an effort to find her.Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have travelled across Europe in an effort to find her.