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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| McCanns to sue Portuguese paper | McCanns to sue Portuguese paper |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The parents of missing Madeleine McCann are to launch a libel action against a Portuguese newspaper which claimed they killed their daughter. | |
| Last week, Tal & Qual reported that the "police believe" Kate and Gerry McCann killed her, with the paper suggesting Madeleine may have died in an accident. | Last week, Tal & Qual reported that the "police believe" Kate and Gerry McCann killed her, with the paper suggesting Madeleine may have died in an accident. |
| The McCanns' lawyers will file for defamation, saying the "untrue" story had caused "suffering and humiliation". | The McCanns' lawyers will file for defamation, saying the "untrue" story had caused "suffering and humiliation". |
| Police have stressed that the McCanns, of Rothley, Leics, are not suspects. | |
| Four-year-old Madeleine vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve, on 3 May while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant. | |
| Earlier this month the police said there were indications that Madeleine might have died. | |
| The newspaper's front-page story, headlined "The police believe the parents killed Maddie", claimed the couple had either caused a fatal accident or given drugs to their daughter. | |
| Evidence analysed | Evidence analysed |
| The allegations were attributed to a "source close to the investigation". | The allegations were attributed to a "source close to the investigation". |
| However, the director of police has said publicly that the McCanns have never been viewed as suspects. | However, the director of police has said publicly that the McCanns have never been viewed as suspects. |
| Lawyers for the couple will file a seven-page defamation complaint against the journalist who wrote the article and the newspaper's director. The legal case says the story was completely untrue. | Lawyers for the couple will file a seven-page defamation complaint against the journalist who wrote the article and the newspaper's director. The legal case says the story was completely untrue. |
| Media speculation has been rife in Portugal since the police declared that Madeleine might have died. | Media speculation has been rife in Portugal since the police declared that Madeleine might have died. |
| The statement was based on the discovery of suspected traces of blood inside the family's apartment. | The statement was based on the discovery of suspected traces of blood inside the family's apartment. |
| The UK's Forensic Science Service is continuing to analyse evidence recovered from the apartment. | The UK's Forensic Science Service is continuing to analyse evidence recovered from the apartment. |
| Last week, Mr McCann asked the media to end the constant speculation about his daughter's whereabouts. | Last week, Mr McCann asked the media to end the constant speculation about his daughter's whereabouts. |
| He said there had been "huge amounts written with no substance" and that it was not necessary to "bombard people on a daily basis" with Madeleine's image. | He said there had been "huge amounts written with no substance" and that it was not necessary to "bombard people on a daily basis" with Madeleine's image. |