Police in Portugal have classed a British man in his 30s as a suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
The man was one of three people interviewed and released late last night while a villa near where the four-year-old disappeared was searched. No arrests have been made.
The detailed search was carried out 100 metres from the apartment where the girl went missing. It is the home of a British woman whose son had been staying with her.
People who are interviewed are considered to be witnesses unless they are officially classed as suspects. A Portuguese court must then order any arrests.
A British journalist said she had become suspicious about a man and had spoken to the police.
It is the first time the police have classified someone as a suspect since Madeleine McCann went missing 12 days ago. She had been asleep in her bedroom at the holiday apartment in Praia de Luz.
Police searched the area, including 500 apartments, and her parents have made numerous appeals for information.
Yesterday, they said that they had been receiving counselling to help them to keep positive. They said they would hold on to the belief that their daughter was safe unless they had concrete proof to the contrary.
Rewards totalling millions of pounds have been offered as well as financial help for the McCann family to keep up the search for Madeleine.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley has added his voice to those calling for the safe return of the missing child.
He said this was a terribly difficult time for the family and he wanted to assure them of his thoughts and prayers.
Mr Paisley called on anyone who had knowledge of the whereabouts of Madeleine to contact police to help bring the trauma to an end.
