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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| McCanns upset over claim letter | McCanns upset over claim letter |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The parents of Madeleine McCann have condemned the decision to publish a letter, claiming to know where her body is, before it was properly examined. | |
| Police are expected to search land after claims Madeleine, four, 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. |
| Gerry McCann said the publication of the letter was an "irresponsible piece of journalism" and was "cruel". | Gerry McCann said the publication of the letter was an "irresponsible piece of journalism" and was "cruel". |
| Writing on his internet blog, he also called the newspaper's publication of the letter "irresponsible journalism". | Writing on his internet blog, he also called the newspaper's publication of the letter "irresponsible journalism". |
| The letter resembles another one sent to the same paper last year, pinpointing where two missing Belgian girls were buried. | The letter resembles another one sent to the same paper last year, pinpointing where two missing Belgian girls were buried. |
| Ch Insp Olegario de Sousa said police were "checking the information" given about the British four-year-old. | Ch Insp Olegario de Sousa said police were "checking the information" given about the British four-year-old. |
| 'Upsetting' | 'Upsetting' |
| The letter, sent to Dutch paper De Telegraaf, identifies an area of scrubland 15km (9.3 miles) from where Madeleine 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". |
| Mr McCann said: "We were extremely disappointed in the publication of the anonymous letter in The Telegraaf claiming to know where Madeleine is buried. | Mr McCann said: "We were extremely disappointed in the publication of the anonymous letter in The Telegraaf claiming to know where Madeleine is buried. |
| "Although all information will be taken seriously, we were very upset that the credibility of this letter had not been examined and, more importantly, published before the Portuguese police had an opportunity to investigate the claim, and search the area if appropriate without massive media attention. | "Although all information will be taken seriously, we were very upset that the credibility of this letter had not been examined and, more importantly, published before the Portuguese police had an opportunity to investigate the claim, and search the area if appropriate without massive media attention. |
| "We feel strongly that this was an irresponsible piece of journalism and, even if it were true, is insensitive and cruel. | "We feel strongly that this was an irresponsible piece of journalism and, even if it were true, is insensitive and cruel. |
| "One can imagine how upsetting it is for Kate and I to hear of such claims through the media and if every piece of information was published like this there would be nothing else in the newspapers." | "One can imagine how upsetting it is for Kate and I to hear of such claims through the media and if every piece of information was published like this there would be nothing else in the newspapers." |
| 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. |
| There were no signs of any ground searches taking place on Thursday morning. | There were no signs of any ground searches taking place on Thursday morning. |
| The area being focused on is near a large reservoir whose surroundings were combed in the days after Madeleine's disappearance. | The area being focused 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." |
| Similarities investigated | Similarities 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. |