Portuguese police 'found no new evidence' during UK interviews with the Tapas 7

Chief Inspector Paulo Rebelo is likely to tell prosecutors that no new evidence has been uncovered in hours of interviews, according to a source.

The admission will open the way for Kate and Gerry McCann to be cleared as suspects in the case.

Spokesman for the McCanns' Clarence Mitchell, said "Kate and Gerry should now be eliminated from the police inquiry."

Portugal's top policeman Alipio Ribeiro told friends of Kate and Gerry of his regret that witness statements by the couple were leaked to the media.

One excerpt leaked to the press suggested that on the morning of her disappearance, Madeleine said: "Mummy, why didn't you come when we were crying last night?"

The couple were furious and have accused the Portuguese police of attempting to slur them as they approach the anniversary of their daughter's disappearance on May 3.

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The leak to a Spanish television station overshadowed the McCanns' visit on Thursday to Brussels where they called for a European rapid alert system for abducted children.

But it was revealed yesterday that Alipio Ribeiro, national director of the Policia Judiciaria, had interrupted interviews in Leicestershire with the "Tapas Seven" to tell the McCanns' friends of his own anger at the leak.

Mr Ribeiro returned a day early to Portugal on Friday after several days interrogating the friends who were on holiday with the McCanns in Praia da Luz last year.

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A source said: "The matter came up in the interviews with Kate and Gerry's friends and Ribeiro was embarrassed by it.

"The leaks came as he was out of the country and he was angry about it.

"He also referred to it when speaking with Leicestershire police."

One of the McCanns' friends, Jane Tanner, who claimed to have seen a man carrying Madeleine away on the night of the child's disappearance, endured ten hours of questioning by Leicestershire police.

Yesterday she spoke out against claims in Portuguese newspapers that she and her friends had demanded a private plane to take them back to Praia da Luz for a reconstruction requested by the Portuguese authorities.

"If it wasn't such a serious matter, some of the things that are being said about us would be laughable," she said.

"The authorities should be out there looking for Madeleine rather than being distracted by any of these ridiculous and made-up stories about us."

Meanwhile, The Mail on Sunday has learned that Robert Murat will remain a formal suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann for at least a further three months.

The 34-year-old had hoped that the decision by the Portuguese police to allow him to travel to visit his daughter in Britain two weeks ago was a sign that the "arguido" status was soon to be lifted.

However, Mr Murat has been informed that his suspect status will be extended until August when the McCanns' similar arguido status will also be considered.

It also appears that the McCanns are not planning to return to Portugal for the reconstruction.

They do not believe there would be any purpose to it unless filmed as part of a Crimewatch-style programme but that has been ruled out by the authorities.