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| UK lab to test Madeleine 'blood' | UK lab to test Madeleine 'blood' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Suspected traces of blood found in the Algarve apartment where Madeleine McCann was last seen are being sent to Birmingham for tests by UK scientists. | Suspected traces of blood found in the Algarve apartment where Madeleine McCann was last seen are being sent to Birmingham for tests by UK scientists. |
| It is believed the evidence was found during a search with at least one sniffer dog from Britain. | It is believed the evidence was found during a search with at least one sniffer dog from Britain. |
| Meanwhile, DNA test results are expected later which could confirm whether or not the four-year-old was seen with a couple in Belgium. | Meanwhile, DNA test results are expected later which could confirm whether or not the four-year-old was seen with a couple in Belgium. |
| Madeleine's parents say they still have faith she will be found alive. | Madeleine's parents say they still have faith she will be found alive. |
| Some Portuguese newspapers reported on Tuesday that detectives now suspect Madeleine died in the holiday flat in Praia da Luz on 3 May - the night she disappeared. | Some Portuguese newspapers reported on Tuesday that detectives now suspect Madeleine died in the holiday flat in Praia da Luz on 3 May - the night she disappeared. |
| Detectives in Portugal are refusing to comment officially on those reports. | Detectives in Portugal are refusing to comment officially on those reports. |
| A police spokesman told BBC News there were "some indications" she had not been alive when she was taken, but the possibility had not been discounted. | |
| He said other people could be interviewed before the end of the week. | |
| If tests in Birmingham confirm the find of traces of blood, police will look for a DNA match with Madeleine. | If tests in Birmingham confirm the find of traces of blood, police will look for a DNA match with Madeleine. |
| Meanwhile, DNA test results linked to a possible sighting of Madeleine at a restaurant in Tongeren, Belgium, are expected later. | Meanwhile, DNA test results linked to a possible sighting of Madeleine at a restaurant in Tongeren, Belgium, are expected later. |
| Breakthrough hope | Breakthrough hope |
| Speaking on Tuesday, Gerry McCann said he had no reason to think his daughter was dead. | Speaking on Tuesday, Gerry McCann said he had no reason to think his daughter was dead. |
| "We're not naive, but on numerous occasions, the Portuguese police have assured us that they were looking for Madeleine alive, and not Madeleine being murdered," Mr McCann said. | "We're not naive, but on numerous occasions, the Portuguese police have assured us that they were looking for Madeleine alive, and not Madeleine being murdered," Mr McCann said. |
| We will work with them and continue to work with them for the breakthrough that we pray for every single day Gerry McCann | We will work with them and continue to work with them for the breakthrough that we pray for every single day Gerry McCann |
| "And I don't know of any information that's changed that." | "And I don't know of any information that's changed that." |
| He and his wife, Kate, from Rothley, Leicestershire, strongly believed their daughter had been alive when she was taken, he said. | |
| Mr McCann said he accepted that police needed to be thorough in all aspects of the investigation, including with his own family and friends. | Mr McCann said he accepted that police needed to be thorough in all aspects of the investigation, including with his own family and friends. |
| Over the past 48 hours, police have also re-examined up to 10 vehicles, including a hire car rented by Gerry and Kate McCann about five weeks after the disappearance of their daughter. | Over the past 48 hours, police have also re-examined up to 10 vehicles, including a hire car rented by Gerry and Kate McCann about five weeks after the disappearance of their daughter. |
| Kate McCann said they had an excellent relationship with the Portuguese police. | Kate McCann said they had an excellent relationship with the Portuguese police. |
| "We will work with them and continue to work with them for the breakthrough that we pray for every single day," added Mr McCann. | "We will work with them and continue to work with them for the breakthrough that we pray for every single day," added Mr McCann. |
| House search | House search |
| A second search of the home of suspect Robert Murat, 33, in the Portuguese resort in recent days found no new evidence. | A second search of the home of suspect Robert Murat, 33, in the Portuguese resort in recent days found no new evidence. |
| Two of the vehicles re-examined on Monday were a car and a van used by Mr Murat, the only declared suspect in the case. | Two of the vehicles re-examined on Monday were a car and a van used by Mr Murat, the only declared suspect in the case. |
| On Monday night, the vehicles were returned to the Murat family villa, which is owned by Mr Murat's mother. | On Monday night, the vehicles were returned to the Murat family villa, which is owned by Mr Murat's mother. |
| Publicly the police have not commented on the results of the weekend search but the BBC understands it revealed nothing to link Mr Murat to Madeleine. | Publicly the police have not commented on the results of the weekend search but the BBC understands it revealed nothing to link Mr Murat to Madeleine. |
| Mr Murat was declared a suspect 10 days after Madeleine was last seen but has strenuously denied any involvement in her disappearance. | Mr Murat was declared a suspect 10 days after Madeleine was last seen but has strenuously denied any involvement in her disappearance. |