PORTIMAO, Portugal: The mother of a missing British girl whose disappearance sparked an international search was formally named as a suspect by Portuguese police yesterday, British media reported.

The Press Association news agency and other outlets quoted unidentified family friends as saying Kate McCann had been declared a suspect under Portuguese law. Earlier, family friend and former spokesman Clarence Mitchell told The Associated Press that police had told Kate McCann and her husband, Gerry, that they would both be named as suspects.

Family spokeswoman Justine McGuinness said Portuguese police had alleged that Kate McCann might have been involved in her daughter’s death.

“They believe they have evidence to show that in some way she is involved in the death of her daughter, which is completely ludicrous,” McGuinness told BBC television.

McGuinness said the allegations related to traces of blood found in a car rented by the McCanns. She said the car was not rented until 25 days after Madeleine was abducted on 3 May.

Under Portuguese law, the legal move grants certain protections to suspects, but allows police more latitude in questioning. Police also have to show suspects whatever evidence they might have against them.

Friends and family said they were increasingly concerned that the McCanns could face charges over their daughter’s disappearance.

Gerry McCann’s sister, Philomena McCann, said police were suggesting Kate might have killed Madeleine accidentally.

“They are suggesting that Kate has in some way accidentally killed Madeleine, then kept her body, then got rid of it,” she told Sky News. “I have never heard anything so utterly ludicrous in my entire life.”

Kate McCann was questioned for 11 hours on Thursday at a police station in Portimao, a town in Portugal’s Algarve region, and faced a media scrum as she returned for more questioning yesterday morning. Gerry McCann was due to be questioned yesterday afternoon, Mitchell said.

The couple have maintained their innocence throughout.

The McCanns “continue to deny absolutely they had anything to do” with their daughter’s disappearance, Mitchell said.

He said Kate McCann had found the police questioning “gruelling.”

“It’s very intense, but she’s remaining strong and determined to prove that they had nothing to do with their daughter’s disappearance and they are innocent victims of the crime,” he told The Associated Press.

Family spokesman David Hughes said police had told Kate McCann they wanted to ask 22 questions, but had not said what they were.

Police summoned her after receiving new forensic evidence. Police spokesman Olegario Sousa said authorities have received some results from forensic tests of the apartment, but declined to elaborate on the findings.

The tests – on specks of blood, items of clothing and other objects in the apartment – were conducted at a British laboratory.

Mitchell said the McCanns had not been informed of the results of the tests.

Kate and Gerry McCann, both doctors from central England, have spearheaded an intense media campaign since four-year-old Madeleine disappeared from a holiday apartment on 3 May in the Algarve where she was sleeping with her two-year-old twin siblings. The parents say they were at dinner at the time at a nearby restaurant, but were checking on the children frequently.

The McCanns toured Europe with photos of Madeleine, even meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. Celebrities including J.K. Rowling and David Beckham made public appeals that helped the family raise more than EUR1.5m.

Their cause, and the couple’s apparent strength in the face of adversity, has hit a nerve among millions, who have followed their lives as they cared for their other children and attended a local church in Praia da Luz, the seaside town where Madeleine disappeared, and where they stayed ever since.

Photographs of the bright-eyed, fair-haired girl have been posted throughout Europe and elsewhere.

The publicity has helped lead to numerous reported sightings of the girl, from as far away as northern Europe and Morocco, amid speculation she might have been taken by an international paedophile ring.

Just after Kate McCann entered the police station on Thursday, another family representative read out a statement from her appealing to what she called Madeleine’s abductors to “do the right thing.”

“It is not too late. Please let her go or call the police,” she said.

Kate McCann left the police station around 1am yesterday morning, looking gaunt and tired.

Police, who are barred by law from discussing ongoing investigations, made no comment.

In recent months, the McCanns have attended meetings with the police together. Officials described those meetings as informal, saying they wanted to keep the parents informed of developments in the case.

The only formal suspect until now has been Robert Murat, who lives with his mother near the hotel from which the girl disappeared.

He has always maintained his innocence.

Sousa said he was forbidden under Portuguese law from discussing the case, but Murat’s status as a suspect had not changed.PORTIMAO, Portugal: The mother of a missing British girl whose disappearance sparked an international search was formally named as a suspect by Portuguese police yesterday, British media reported.

The Press Association news agency and other outlets quoted unidentified family friends as saying Kate McCann had been declared a suspect under Portuguese law. Earlier, family friend and former spokesman Clarence Mitchell told The Associated Press that police had told Kate McCann and her husband, Gerry, that they would both be named as suspects.

Family spokeswoman Justine McGuinness said Portuguese police had alleged that Kate McCann might have been involved in her daughter’s death.

“They believe they have evidence to show that in some way she is involved in the death of her daughter, which is completely ludicrous,” McGuinness told BBC television.

McGuinness said the allegations related to traces of blood found in a car rented by the McCanns. She said the car was not rented until 25 days after Madeleine was abducted on 3 May.

Under Portuguese law, the legal move grants certain protections to suspects, but allows police more latitude in questioning. Police also have to show suspects whatever evidence they might have against them.

Friends and family said they were increasingly concerned that the McCanns could face charges over their daughter’s disappearance.

Gerry McCann’s sister, Philomena McCann, said police were suggesting Kate might have killed Madeleine accidentally.

“They are suggesting that Kate has in some way accidentally killed Madeleine, then kept her body, then got rid of it,” she told Sky News. “I have never heard anything so utterly ludicrous in my entire life.”

Kate McCann was questioned for 11 hours on Thursday at a police station in Portimao, a town in Portugal’s Algarve region, and faced a media scrum as she returned for more questioning yesterday morning. Gerry McCann was due to be questioned yesterday afternoon, Mitchell said.

The couple have maintained their innocence throughout.

The McCanns “continue to deny absolutely they had anything to do” with their daughter’s disappearance, Mitchell said.

He said Kate McCann had found the police questioning “gruelling.”

“It’s very intense, but she’s remaining strong and determined to prove that they had nothing to do with their daughter’s disappearance and they are innocent victims of the crime,” he told The Associated Press.

Family spokesman David Hughes said police had told Kate McCann they wanted to ask 22 questions, but had not said what they were.

Police summoned her after receiving new forensic evidence. Police spokesman Olegario Sousa said authorities have received some results from forensic tests of the apartment, but declined to elaborate on the findings.

The tests – on specks of blood, items of clothing and other objects in the apartment – were conducted at a British laboratory.

Mitchell said the McCanns had not been informed of the results of the tests.

Kate and Gerry McCann, both doctors from central England, have spearheaded an intense media campaign since four-year-old Madeleine disappeared from a holiday apartment on 3 May in the Algarve where she was sleeping with her two-year-old twin siblings. The parents say they were at dinner at the time at a nearby restaurant, but were checking on the children frequently.

The McCanns toured Europe with photos of Madeleine, even meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. Celebrities including J.K. Rowling and David Beckham made public appeals that helped the family raise more than EUR1.5m.

Their cause, and the couple’s apparent strength in the face of adversity, has hit a nerve among millions, who have followed their lives as they cared for their other children and attended a local church in Praia da Luz, the seaside town where Madeleine disappeared, and where they stayed ever since.

Photographs of the bright-eyed, fair-haired girl have been posted throughout Europe and elsewhere.

The publicity has helped lead to numerous reported sightings of the girl, from as far away as northern Europe and Morocco, amid speculation she might have been taken by an international paedophile ring.

Just after Kate McCann entered the police station on Thursday, another family representative read out a statement from her appealing to what she called Madeleine’s abductors to “do the right thing.”

“It is not too late. Please let her go or call the police,” she said.

Kate McCann left the police station around 1am yesterday morning, looking gaunt and tired.

Police, who are barred by law from discussing ongoing investigations, made no comment.

In recent months, the McCanns have attended meetings with the police together. Officials described those meetings as informal, saying they wanted to keep the parents informed of developments in the case.

The only formal suspect until now has been Robert Murat, who lives with his mother near the hotel from which the girl disappeared.

He has always maintained his innocence.

Sousa said he was forbidden under Portuguese law from discussing the case, but Murat’s status as a suspect had not changed.