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| Madeleine search reaches 100 days | Madeleine search reaches 100 days |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| It is 100 days since Madeleine McCann disappeared in Portugal and her family and supporters will be marking the milestone with a series of events. | It is 100 days since Madeleine McCann disappeared in Portugal and her family and supporters will be marking the milestone with a series of events. |
| It comes amid unconfirmed Portuguese newspaper reports that police now believe the four-year-old is dead. | It comes amid unconfirmed Portuguese newspaper reports that police now believe the four-year-old is dead. |
| Her parents, Kate and Gerry, have also been forced to deny allegations they were somehow involved. | Her parents, Kate and Gerry, have also been forced to deny allegations they were somehow involved. |
| The couple will attend a prayer service in Praia da Luz, while in Britain sports stars will pledge their support. | The couple will attend a prayer service in Praia da Luz, while in Britain sports stars will pledge their support. |
| At the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, a special lament to the missing girl is to be played by a lone piper. | At the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, a special lament to the missing girl is to be played by a lone piper. |
| Media pressure | Media pressure |
| Madeleine's parents believe she is still alive and say have not seen any "concrete evidence" to the contrary. | Madeleine's parents believe she is still alive and say have not seen any "concrete evidence" to the contrary. |
| They have come under intense media pressure as police reportedly move away from the long-held belief that Madeleine was abducted from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May. | They have come under intense media pressure as police reportedly move away from the long-held belief that Madeleine was abducted from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May. |
| Portuguese police are publicly refusing to comment on the newspaper reports. | |
| 100 days of searching | 100 days of searching |
| Meanwhile, suspected traces of blood from the Algarve apartment where Madeleine was last seen are being tested in Birmingham by UK scientists. | Meanwhile, suspected traces of blood from the Algarve apartment where Madeleine was last seen are being tested in Birmingham by UK scientists. |
| The McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have insisted they will not be "bullied" into leaving Portugal by the growing backlash against them. | The McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have insisted they will not be "bullied" into leaving Portugal by the growing backlash against them. |
| Mr McCann told the BBC: "It's incredibly difficult when people are implying that your daughter is dead and that you may have been involved in it. | Mr McCann told the BBC: "It's incredibly difficult when people are implying that your daughter is dead and that you may have been involved in it. |
| "I had a fairly strong belief that there was a lack of evidence, certainly initially, that there was no evidence of serious harm and I do not know of any specific evidence now that alters that." | "I had a fairly strong belief that there was a lack of evidence, certainly initially, that there was no evidence of serious harm and I do not know of any specific evidence now that alters that." |
| Madeleine's mother Kate said: "All we want is Madeleine back, and the truth to be out. Anything else we'll stay strong and we'll get through." | Madeleine's mother Kate said: "All we want is Madeleine back, and the truth to be out. Anything else we'll stay strong and we'll get through." |
| Mr McCann also told the BBC there had been a "shift in the investigation" and detectives could be "starting with a new slate", fuelling speculation Robert Murat, the only official suspect in the case, will be formally cleared in the coming weeks. | Mr McCann also told the BBC there had been a "shift in the investigation" and detectives could be "starting with a new slate", fuelling speculation Robert Murat, the only official suspect in the case, will be formally cleared in the coming weeks. |
| 'Scrutiny' | 'Scrutiny' |
| The couple have met detectives twice this week but are understood to be frustrated by a lack of clear information. | The couple have met detectives twice this week but are understood to be frustrated by a lack of clear information. |
| Under Portuguese law, police are not allowed to speak publicly about the details of an investigation but a spokesman has said there are indications to contradict the view that she was abducted. | Under Portuguese law, police are not allowed to speak publicly about the details of an investigation but a spokesman has said there are indications to contradict the view that she was abducted. |
| Paul Luckman, publisher of the expat newspaper Portugal News, told the BBC: "The police investigation has changed over the last 10 or 14 days and I think that's probably borne of the knowledge that the hundred days is coming up and the local police force will come under some scrutiny." | Paul Luckman, publisher of the expat newspaper Portugal News, told the BBC: "The police investigation has changed over the last 10 or 14 days and I think that's probably borne of the knowledge that the hundred days is coming up and the local police force will come under some scrutiny." |
| In Praia da Luz the McCanns are due to attend a special prayer service for missing children. | In Praia da Luz the McCanns are due to attend a special prayer service for missing children. |
| In Britain, there will be prayers and pledges of support by sports stars, including England rugby star Jonny Wilkinson, jockey Frankie Dettori and Everton Football Club. | In Britain, there will be prayers and pledges of support by sports stars, including England rugby star Jonny Wilkinson, jockey Frankie Dettori and Everton Football Club. |
| On Friday, the McCanns helped launch a new section on the video-sharing website YouTube which will show footage of missing children. | On Friday, the McCanns helped launch a new section on the video-sharing website YouTube which will show footage of missing children. |
| The Don't You Forget About Me channel will be managed by the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in Washington DC. | The Don't You Forget About Me channel will be managed by the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in Washington DC. |