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Madeleine parents in Morocco trip Madeleine parents in Morocco trip
(about 9 hours later)
The parents of Madeleine McCann have taken the search for their missing daughter to Morocco. The parents of Madeleine McCann have been warmly met by dozens of Moroccan children as they took the search for their missing daughter to North Africa.
Kate and Gerry McCann flew from Lisbon, Portugal, to Casablanca on Sunday, and will later visit the capital Rabat. Kate and Gerry McCann were greeted in Morocco's capital, Rabat, by youngsters holding posters of their daughter.
This follows a reported sighting of a girl fitting Madeleine's description at a petrol station in Marrakech. The trip follows a reported sighting of a girl fitting Madeleine's description at a petrol station in Marrakech.
It is thought the four-year-old was snatched from an apartment at the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz while her parents ate at a nearby restaurant. The four-year-old is thought to have been abducted from an apartment in the Algarve town of Praia da Luz on 3 May.
The couple have travelled across Europe in an effort to find their daughter since her disappearance on 3 May. Mrs McCann said: "If Moroccan children are anything to go by we have a very good chance of getting Madeleine back."
"Morocco is, next to Spain, the closest country in proximity to Portugal so, as you know we've certainly got concerns that she's been moved out of Portugal, she could have gone through Spain and got to Morocco pretty quickly and pretty easily," said Mr McCann. 'Return Madeleine'
"I think we're going to ask for Moroccan help in potentially identifying sightings of her." She added that the reception was "very emotional, very lovely" and the "best welcome we could have had to Morocco".
The McCanns are expected to conduct a series of meetings and a news conference in Rabat. We believe she will be found in whatever country she is in Gerry McCann
Grief The young crowd stood between two large posters, one of which read: "Stop! Return Madeleine to her Family. Please, please, please."
Mrs McCann said that after the trip the couple, of Rothley, Leicestershire, would be taking some time to reflect. Mr McCann thanked the 100 Moroccan children for their show of solidarity.
"I think after Morocco we'll have covered the main places that we need to go, we'll just be having a bit of time to take stock and the search for Madeleine and the campaign is very much ongoing and that won't be stopping," she said. He said: "It is totally unexpected and it gives us tremendous heart.
The couple's search for Madeleine has taken them across Europe, including a trip to the Vatican to make a personal appeal to the Pope. "We believe she will be found in whatever country she is in. I truly believe that if Madeleine is in Morocco we will find her."
Mr McCann has said they now need time to grieve. Madeleine McCann has now been missing for more than a month
Madeleine McCann has now been missing for more than a month"In the first few weeks when I slipped into dark moments of despair, I was finding it quite easy to emotionally switch a light back on, but I've been finding it increasingly difficult to do," he said. The couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, arrived in Casablanca on 10 June, and are expected to stay for two nights.
"More importantly, I don't want to do that any more. I want to be able to grieve and let those emotions out." The couple have travelled across Europe in an effort to find their daughter since their daughter disappeared from their apartment while they were eating at a nearby restaurant.
He also acknowledged that they would have to return to the UK at some point. Mr McCann said: "There has been no evidence that she is still in Portugal," said Mr McCann.
"It will be very, very hard. The last time I was back, I couldn't even go into the house. I found it hard enough going to Rothley," he said. "We have concerns that she may have been moved from Portugal very early on and abducted. We have been to Spain and now Morocco to raise awareness of the disappearance."
Mrs McCann said that she felt "emotionally close" to her daughter while still in Portugal. The McCanns met with the British ambassador Charles Gray and Charqi Draiss, Morocco's most senior police officer.
"People have told me that I could do the same, if not more, back in the UK, but I can't face leaving," she said. The McCanns are expected to move out of their Mark Warner holiday apartment shortly.
The McCanns are expected to move out of their Mark Warner holiday apartment within a few days and enter more permanent housing.
On Saturday a family spokesman said the couple would probably remain in Portugal at least until the end of the summer.On Saturday a family spokesman said the couple would probably remain in Portugal at least until the end of the summer.