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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| New police chief for McCann case | New police chief for McCann case |
| (1 day later) | |
| One of Portugal's most senior officers has been appointed to lead the inquiry into Madeleine McCann's disappearance. | One of Portugal's most senior officers has been appointed to lead the inquiry into Madeleine McCann's disappearance. |
| Paulo Rebelo, deputy national director of Portuguese police, replaces Goncalo Amaral, who was removed last week apparently for criticising UK police. | Paulo Rebelo, deputy national director of Portuguese police, replaces Goncalo Amaral, who was removed last week apparently for criticising UK police. |
| Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, of Rothley, Leics, are official suspects in the case but have not been charged. | Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, of Rothley, Leics, are official suspects in the case but have not been charged. |
| Madeleine vanished from their apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on 3 May, days before her fourth birthday. | Madeleine vanished from their apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on 3 May, days before her fourth birthday. |
| Mr Amaral was apparently removed after suggesting British police were working to Mr and Mrs McCann's agenda. | Mr Amaral was apparently removed after suggesting British police were working to Mr and Mrs McCann's agenda. |
| They hope that he will concentrate on eliminating them from the inquiry as suspects Clarence MitchellFamily spokesman | They hope that he will concentrate on eliminating them from the inquiry as suspects Clarence MitchellFamily spokesman |
| At the time, the McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said any suggestion that the couple were influencing the police was "ludicrous". | At the time, the McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said any suggestion that the couple were influencing the police was "ludicrous". |
| On Tuesday, he said he hoped the new officer would make it his priority to eliminate the McCanns from the inquiry. | On Tuesday, he said he hoped the new officer would make it his priority to eliminate the McCanns from the inquiry. |
| He said: "Clearly this is an operational matter for the Portuguese police, but Kate and Gerry do welcome the appointment of a new officer to oversee the operation in the Algarve. | He said: "Clearly this is an operational matter for the Portuguese police, but Kate and Gerry do welcome the appointment of a new officer to oversee the operation in the Algarve. |
| "They hope that he will concentrate on eliminating them from the inquiry as suspects and will then be in a position to refocus the efforts of his team on finding Madeleine." | "They hope that he will concentrate on eliminating them from the inquiry as suspects and will then be in a position to refocus the efforts of his team on finding Madeleine." |
| Mr Rebelo, 45, is a veteran detective who for the last two years has been the deputy national director of Portugal's police force. | Mr Rebelo, 45, is a veteran detective who for the last two years has been the deputy national director of Portugal's police force. |
| He has spent much of his career hunting drug traffickers, and has investigated a number of other high-profile cases. | He has spent much of his career hunting drug traffickers, and has investigated a number of other high-profile cases. |
| The Madeleine McCann inquiry is by far the most widely-publicised case tackled by Mr Rebelo. | |
| The BBC's Alison Roberts, in Portugal, said: "None has come close to having the international ramifications of the Madeleine McCann investigation." |