Madeleine parents hopeful six months after disappearance

LONDON - The parents of Madeleine McCann are marking the six month mark since their daughter's disappearance, saying on Saturday that they remain hopeful their daughter is still alive.

|PIC1|Gerry and Kate McCann, named by police as formal suspects in the case, say she was abducted from their Algarve holiday resort on May 3.

In a statement, they said "somebody somewhere" knows where their daughter is and should get in touch.

"Six months is such a long time for a little girl to be separated from her family," they said. "We believe that our Madeleine is out there somewhere and retain hope that we can be reunited.

"Madeleine is a beautiful little person who deserves a loving and happy life.

"To ensure this, there is no doubt that the best place for her to be is with family. We know that somebody somewhere can make this happen."

Portuguese police named the McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, as formal suspects in the case on September 7.

They have faced intense media speculation over what happened on the night Madeleine went missing during a family holiday in Praia da Luz.

Police have said the girl may be dead. The only other suspect is a Briton living in Praia da Luz.

However, the couple say they are innocent and have launched a high-profile campaign to find their daughter.

Gerry McCann returned to his job as a consultant cardiologist on Thursday, saying he and his wife had done everything they could in the search.

Today family members of Madeleine will hold a church service to mark six months since she was last seen in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz.

Mr McCann explains in his latest internet diary entry: "We will be marking this milestone very quietly with an ecumenical prayer service for Madeleine and other missing children in the local Anglican church."