http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23396028-bikers-join-search-for-missing-girl.do

Up to 600 Portuguese motorcyclists are preparing to travel the length of the country, distributing appeals to help find missing Madeleine McCann.

Members of the Motards da Praia motorcycling club in the village of Praia da Luz are setting off to the north of the country to rendezvous with like-minded bikers for the mission.

The around 50 members of the club rode through the village wearing crosses made of ribbons - yellow in honour of Madeleine and a green ribbon. In Portugal green is the colour of hope because of its association with spring.

Joaquim Imaginario of the club said that they would set off on their four-day ride to the north soon to meet the other motorcyclists. He said they would then begin to criss-cross the country spreading word of the appeal to outlying areas.

He said: "We're going to do a bike ride from the north to the south of Portugal stopping and going through all the places where media cannot reach so easily - newspapers, television or the internet.

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"There will be over 600 bikers in this journey and we will be taking with us pictures of little Madeleine to distribute throughout - to people who may not have already heard of her disappearance or seen photographs of her."

He said that the members of the club had been shocked by Madeleine's abduction right on their doorstep.

He said: "On the night of Madeleine's disappearance we were in a meeting of the club when we heard news that she had disappeared, and started off the searches for her in our local area."

He added: "Everyone throughout the whole of Portugal, everywhere, are looking in ditches, empty buildings, everywhere that is possible, for little Madeleine. This is something which just does not happen - it has touched very closely to the hearts of all the Portuguese people.

"We are hoping that somebody who has not been in contact with media for different reasons, such as location, can be informed of her disappearance and help look for her."

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Algarve police target British paedophiles
From The TimesMay 9, 2007
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1764318.ece
David Brown in Praia da Luz

Dozens of sex offenders who travelled to the Algarve in the month before the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are being hunted by police in Portugal and Britain, The Times has learnt.

Portuguese detectives have drawn up a description of a British man whom they want to question over Madeleine’s disappearence. A computer-generated artist’s impression of the suspect shows a white man, 5ft 8in (1.7m) tall, aged 35 to 40, with short, dark hair.

In response, British detectives have compiled a list of every person on the sex offenders register who told police that they were travelling to the country.

The list was compiled by Leicestershire Constabulary over the weekend from records kept by every police force. Portuguese officers have also examined records at every hotel in Praia da Luz and the nearby town of Lagos to gather information on every visitor from the Midlands.

A Leicestershire Constabulary spokeswoman said: “We have received a number of calls from the public and police forces around the country with information relating to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.”

Last night the Policia Judiciaria held another chaotic press conference at Portimão town hall. Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa, who is now heading the investigation, said that about 500 apartments at and around the holiday resort complex where Madeleine was abducted had been inspected. The search area now extends to about ten miles (16km) from the area.

Mr Sousa said: “Hundreds of people have been contacted, both Portuguese and foreign nationals, and more than 100 have been formally interviewed.” The officer appealed for understanding from the British public for the fact that, under Portuguese law, he was unable to provide more information.

Earlier he was unable to offer Madeleine’s family any assurance that she is still alive. “All the hours that have passed since her disappearance are against us and are against her too,” he said.

Last night Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester United and Portugal footballer, made a personal appeal for help. “I was very upset to hear of the abduction of Madeleine McCann and I appeal to anyone with information to please come forward,” he said.

Last night John Buck, the British Ambassador to Portugal, said that he had checked the progress of the investigation: “I have been in touch with Portuguese Cabinet ministers, the Prime Minister’s office and police. They all assure me everything is being done to ensure the safe return of Madeleine.”

Madeleine, from Rothley, near Leicester, disappeared last Thursday night after she was left with her younger twin brother and sister in a holiday apartment. Her parents, Gerry and Kate, were dining in a nearby restaurant and checking on them regularly.

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