McCanns: Focus on finding Madeleine

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Chief Inspector Goncalo Amaral was taken off the case following his comments that Kate and Gerry McCann had been calling the shots by identifying lines of inquiry for Leicestershire officers.

The family's spokesman Clarence Mitchell told GMTV the claims were "ludicrous". He added: "What they want now is whoever takes over to refocus the inquiry on to finding Madeleine."

Mr Mitchell said the decision to remove Mr Amaral was "a decision for the Portuguese authorities."

"Kate and Gerry have always said they were more than happy to co-operate with the Portuguese authorities whoever that might be.

"So in other words, whoever takes over from Mr Amaral as head of the investigation, they will continue that co-operation and do anything that is required - including going back to Portugal for more interviews if necessary."

Asked if it was true the McCann's were identifying lines of inquiry for Leicestershire Police, he replied: "Of course not, it's an absolutely ridiculous suggestion. It is a Portuguese-led inquiry and will remain so. And, of course, from time to time there is communication with Gerry and Kate as there would be in any police investigation. It is ludicrous to suggest that they have done anything like that."|

He called for an end to the printing of "unsubstantiated allegations" in newspapers in Portugal and Britain.

"What they want now is whoever takes over to refocus the inquiry on to finding Madeleine. There have been so many distractions, so many unsubstantiated allegations swirling around all of this out there and repeated here in Britain.

"Surely it is now time to for all of that nonsense to end and for the search for Madeleine to be re-energised."