Madeleine: Portuguese detectives send British police 40 questions to ask the McCanns

The British police will then decide how and where the questions will be posed.

The move has been ordered by prosecutor Luis Bilro Verao, who issued a public statement earlier this month saying there was not enough evidence against Kate and Gerry McCann to order a fresh grilling about the little girl's disappearance.

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The new interrogation will be based on more than 40 questions Kate McCann refused to answer when she was quizzed by police in Portimao on September 7.

It will focus on two "missing" hours on a trip the McCanns made to the Spanish city of Huelva on August 3 when the McCanns reportedly 'evaporated' from the view of accompanying journalists.

They are said to suspect that Madeleine died in the holiday apartment at Praia da Luz and that her parents hid the body and moved it three months later on the trip to Spain.

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But the couple's spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, insisted yesterday that Mr and Mrs McCann, both 39-year-old doctors from Rothley, Leicestershire, have a full account of their visit to Huelva.

He said the couple were never alone during the trip and were always in the company of PR adviser Jon Corner and a cameraman.

There is even a video of the trip on the website YouTube, showing the McCanns handing out leaflets as part of their drive to find their daughter.

Mr Mitchell said: "Kate and Gerry stopped several times to distribute leaflets and they had the car boot open all the time.

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"They transported all the campaign material in it. If there had been a body in there, people would have seen."

Spanish authorities said yesterday they have not been asked to investigate the Huelva trip.

Spokesman Manuel Bago insisted: "There is no investigation involving Madeleine's parents in the province of Huelva."

Forensic tests from the McCanns' Renault Scenic hire car are expected back within two weeks. Police believe the results will give a "fresh breath" to the investigation.

Meanwhile, despite having their hopes dashed last week when a blonde child photographed in Morocco proved not to be their daughter, the couple believe North Africa may hold the key to her safe return.

In Gerry's blog yesterday, he wrote: "When we hear of potential sightings of Madeleine, Kate and I try not to get too excited, otherwise we would be on a continuous emotional rollercoaster, more than that we are experiencing already.