'Sighting' Boosts Hunt For Madeleine

Gerry and Kate McCann have welcomed the latest supposed sighting of their daughter in Morocco, even though it did not turn out to be her.

They believe the media coverage boosted their campaign to find Madeleine, who went missing shortly before her fourth birthday.

A spokeswoman for the family told Sky News Online: "They were obviously disappointed it was not her.

"But they are pleased with the publicity because it has turned the focus back on the search for Madeleine."

There have been several apparent sightings of the British girl since she disappeared from a holiday resort in Portugal on May 3.

The latest one turned out to be the five-year-old daughter of an olive farmer.

Reporters went to the remote village of Zinat after an image of a young girl being carried on a Moroccan woman's back was shown around the world as a possible sighting of Madeleine.

But it emerged on Wednesday that the girl in the photograph was youngster Bushra Binhisa.
The McCanns' spokeswoman said the couple believe Madeleine is still alive.

She said the pair, from Rothley in Leicestershire, have spent a lot of time recently on a fresh publicity campaign.

A new poster is planned in the coming weeks for Portugal, Spain and Morocco, where there have been a number of reported sightings of the youngster.

The couple are still regarded as suspects by Portuguese police, but insist they had nothing to do with her disappearance.


Sighting Ruled Out In Hunt For Madeleine 26/09/07

It seems the picture of a blonde girl taken in Morocco is not Madeleine McCann, as had been hoped. Evening Standard journalist Rashid Razaq flew there from London and saw the youngster for himself. He speaks to Julie Etchingham.

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