Police 'too hasty' in accusing McCanns

Portugal's top policeman yesterday admitted detectives were "hasty" in making Madeleine McCann's parents suspects in her disappearance. Alipio Ribeiro, national director of the Policia Judiciaria, now believes there "perhaps should have been another assessment" before this happened.

Kate and Gerry McCann were named as arguidos – or formal suspects – four months after their daughter vanished. In an interview with Portugal's Radio Renascenca, Mr Ribeiro stressed he did not give his officers orders about who should be named an arguido. But he said there was a "certain hastiness" in naming the McCanns.

Their spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, welcomed the senior officer's comments and again called for them to be formally cleared.