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| Police quiz Madeleine's mother | Police quiz Madeleine's mother |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Portuguese police are re-interviewing the mother of missing Madeleine McCann. | Portuguese police are re-interviewing the mother of missing Madeleine McCann. |
| Kate McCann and her husband Gerry have previously been interviewed over the disappearance of their daughter from an apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May. | Kate McCann and her husband Gerry have previously been interviewed over the disappearance of their daughter from an apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May. |
| Mrs McCann arrived at Portimao police station, with a lawyer, for formal questioning as a witness. Police have said the McCanns are not suspects. | Mrs McCann arrived at Portimao police station, with a lawyer, for formal questioning as a witness. Police have said the McCanns are not suspects. |
| Separately, Portuguese detectives confirmed they had the partial results of forensic tests by a UK laboratory. | Separately, Portuguese detectives confirmed they had the partial results of forensic tests by a UK laboratory. |
| Four-year-old Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from the family's holiday apartment while her parents were eating in a nearby restaurant. | Four-year-old Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from the family's holiday apartment while her parents were eating in a nearby restaurant. |
| Blood traces | Blood traces |
| Mrs McCann arrived at the police station in the Algarve at 1400 BST (1300 GMT) on Thursday, driven by her husband. | Mrs McCann arrived at the police station in the Algarve at 1400 BST (1300 GMT) on Thursday, driven by her husband. |
| Kate is a loving, gentle mother - one of the victims in an extraordinary and terrible set of events Justine McGuinnessMcCann family spokeswoman | Kate is a loving, gentle mother - one of the victims in an extraordinary and terrible set of events Justine McGuinnessMcCann family spokeswoman |
| In a statement released before the interview, she appealed to her daughter's abductors, saying: "It is not too late - please let her go or call the police." | In a statement released before the interview, she appealed to her daughter's abductors, saying: "It is not too late - please let her go or call the police." |
| She said: "We came to Portugal an ordinary family of five. We just want to know what happened on May 3 and want to be able to go home one family, reunited." | She said: "We came to Portugal an ordinary family of five. We just want to know what happened on May 3 and want to be able to go home one family, reunited." |
| The BBC's Steve Kingstone, in Portimao, said it was understood Mrs McCann would have a formal police interview. | |
| "This is not an informal meeting of the type the McCanns have had regularly with detectives since Madeleine disappeared," he said. | "This is not an informal meeting of the type the McCanns have had regularly with detectives since Madeleine disappeared," he said. |
| He added that a family spokeswoman had stressed Mrs McCann would be questioned as a witness not as a suspect. | He added that a family spokeswoman had stressed Mrs McCann would be questioned as a witness not as a suspect. |
| Mr McCann is thought to face further questioning himself on Friday. | Mr McCann is thought to face further questioning himself on Friday. |
| Madeleine was last seen on 3 May | Madeleine was last seen on 3 May |
| Family spokeswoman Justine McGuinness, speaking shortly after Mrs McCann entered the police station, said: "Kate and Gerry are happy to help the police in their investigations to find their daughter Madeleine, as they have been since she was taken. | Family spokeswoman Justine McGuinness, speaking shortly after Mrs McCann entered the police station, said: "Kate and Gerry are happy to help the police in their investigations to find their daughter Madeleine, as they have been since she was taken. |
| "Kate continues to believe that Madeleine is still alive, and to hope and pray that she will be returned soon. | "Kate continues to believe that Madeleine is still alive, and to hope and pray that she will be returned soon. |
| "Kate is a loving, gentle mother - one of the victims in an extraordinary and terrible set of events." | "Kate is a loving, gentle mother - one of the victims in an extraordinary and terrible set of events." |
| Portuguese police spokesman Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said partial results from tests had been received but would give no further details. | Portuguese police spokesman Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said partial results from tests had been received but would give no further details. |
| Samples, including suspected traces of blood, were recovered from the McCanns' holiday apartment. | Samples, including suspected traces of blood, were recovered from the McCanns' holiday apartment. |
| The UK's Forensic Science Service has spent the past month analysing samples. | The UK's Forensic Science Service has spent the past month analysing samples. |
| Last week, the McCanns launched a libel action against a Portuguese newspaper which claimed they killed their daughter. | Last week, the McCanns launched a libel action against a Portuguese newspaper which claimed they killed their daughter. |
| But a public statement from the director of police followed saying the McCanns had never been viewed as suspects. | But a public statement from the director of police followed saying the McCanns had never been viewed as suspects. |
| The McCanns have travelled extensively through Europe to raise awareness of the search for their daughter. | The McCanns have travelled extensively through Europe to raise awareness of the search for their daughter. |