Parents' prayers as Madeleine police 'quiz two'
Madeleine McCann has been missing since May 3rd
Also In The News
|
Good, bad or just the same old, same old. |  |
Wednesday, 23, May 2007 02:12
The parents of the British four-year-old who has been missing since May 3rd have visited a holy shrine in Portugal to pray for her safe return.
Kate and Gerry McCann spent time praying at the Sanctuary of Fatima, considered as Portugal's holiest site, as they marked the 20th day since their young daughter Madeleine disappeared from the family's apartment at the Praia Da Luz resort in the Algarve.
Their trip to the site where the Virgin Mary was said to have been seen in 1917 comes as two other people are reportedly re-questioned by Portuguese police over the disappearance.
Media reports suggest the pair being quizzed for a second time are German-born Michaela Walczuch - who is understood to be the lover of the only named suspect in the case, Briton Robert Murat - and her estranged Portuguese husband Luis Antonio.
The Press Association cited a senior police source as saying the questioning was "normal and routine".
Portuguese police have said little official about their investigation due to strict legal restrictions in the country, but have previously confirmed that they have one suspect - Mr Murat.
The Briton has consistently denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance and has not been arrested by detectives.
During their visit to the shrine today, Mr and Mrs McCann were mobbed by local pilgrims wanting to offer support before they made a silent dedication alone.
Yesterday the Leicestershire couple, both 38, pledged to continue their efforts to find their daughter.
"We will travel wherever is necessary to ensure people across Europe recognise Madeleine's picture and we will encourage them to come forward with any information that may lead to her safe return," Mr McCann said on behalf of him and his wife.
"Kate and I are nowhere near ready to leave Portugal and head home. We don't know that [Madeleine's] in Portugal and therefore we have to consider the possibility that she has crossed borders."
Rewards totalling £2.5 million for information leading to the four-year-old's safe return have been gathered, while a website, www.findmadeleine.com, has received more than 115 million hits since it was set up.
Some 76,000 messages of support have also been sent to the McCann family and more than £184,000 raised to help the hunt for her.