Portuguese police have arrived in Britain to observe as the friends of Kate and Gerry McCann are interviewed about the night Madeleine went missing.
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They will be asked about events surrounding the evening of May 3 last year when the four-year-old disappeared from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz as her parents and friends ate at a restaurant nearby.
Clarence Mitchell, the McCann's spokesman, said the couple welcomed the interviews and were happy to be re-interviewed themselves, but a request had not been made by Portuguese detectives.
There had been speculation that diaries and Madeleine's Cuddle Cat toy could be seized from them by Portuguese officers, but it is understood that no property will be taken.
The Portuguese officers, led by Paulo Rebelo who is in charge of the Madeleine case, landed at East Midlands Airport at noon - 20 minutes early - on a flight from Faro.
They were met by British officers and were escorted out through a private exit to avoid the public arrivals lounge.
The Tapas Seven will be questioned as witnesses and are free to leave at any time, a spokesman for Leicestershire Constabulary said. No lawyers will be present.
Some interviews may begin today, but the force would not say where they were being held. It is believed they will take place at the force's headquarters in Enderby.
"Leicestershire Constabulary will be co-ordinating the execution of the request for mutual legal assistance made by the Portuguese authorities," the spokesman said.
"The Portuguese authorities have asked that the contents of the request and the way it is being executed be kept confidential so as not to prejudice their ongoing investigation."
The process of interviewing key witnesses will last several weeks, but the Portuguese detectives are believed to be returning home at the end of the week.
It has been 11 months since Madeleine disappeared from the holiday resort of Praia da Luz.
Mrs McCann, 40, and her 39-year-old husband remain arguidos - formal suspects.
The McCanns will not be in Leicestershire for the duration of the visit by Mr Rebelo and his team.
On Wednesday, they travel to Brussels to lobby MEPs for better co-ordination between European countries when a child goes missing.
They will return to Leicestershire on Thursday evening before the Portuguese officers fly home.
The Tapas Seven will be questioned as witnesses and are free to leave at any time, a spokesman for Leicestershire Constabulary said. No lawyers will be present.
Some interviews may begin today, but the force would not say where they were being held. It is believed they will take place at the force's headquarters in Enderby.
"Leicestershire Constabulary will be co-ordinating the execution of the request for mutual legal assistance made by the Portuguese authorities," the spokesman said.
"The Portuguese authorities have asked that the contents of the request and the way it is being executed be kept confidential so as not to prejudice their ongoing investigation."
The process of interviewing key witnesses will last several weeks, but the Portuguese detectives are believed to be returning home at the end of the week.
It has been 11 months since Madeleine disappeared from the holiday resort of Praia da Luz.
Mrs McCann, 40, and her 39-year-old husband remain arguidos - formal suspects.
The McCanns will not be in Leicestershire for the duration of the visit by Mr Rebelo and his team.
On Wednesday, they travel to Brussels to lobby MEPs for better co-ordination between European countries when a child goes missing.
They will return to Leicestershire on Thursday evening before the Portuguese officers fly home.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/madeleinemccann/1584188/Madeleine-McCann-police-arrive-in-UK.html
