McCanns 'want to leave Portugal'

Madeleine McCann's parents want to return home as soon as possible amid fears they could be charged over her disappearance.Gerry McCann's sister Philomena revealed the couple hope to return to Leicestershire this week but they are worried it could appear they are "running scared".Family friends said the couple plan to stay in the Algarve to "help the police" but are taking legal advice on whether they can return to the UK.Portuguese police have declared both Mr McCann and his wife Kate "arguidos", or formal suspects.Although they have no bail conditions and still retain their passports, police could in theory apply for a court to impose movement restrictions on them.Philomena McCann, 43, spoke to her brother on the telephone, hours after he left a Portuguese police station following eight hours of questioning.She said: "They are hoping to come home on Monday, but Gerry is saying he doesn't want it to look like they are running scared."He doesn't want it to look as if they are running away, because that is nonsense."She said they have not yet bought tickets for a flight.The McCanns had originally intended to return with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie to their home in Rothley, Leicestershire on Sunday.But they had to put their plans on hold after Portuguese police summoned them back in for questioning this week and made them arguidos.The lease on their rented house in Praia da Luz in the Algarve, where Madeleine went missing on May 3, runs out on Tuesday.A family friend in Portugal said: "At the moment it is their intention to stay here. However, they would very much like to go home."They are in a position at the moment whereby they have been made arguidos."They obviously want to help the police. I think they feel that it wouldn't be right to have this morning jumped on a plane to go home."The McCanns, who strenuously protest their innocence, are said to be "in a state of shock but also extraordinarily angry" about Portuguese police's line of questioning.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | September 8, 2007

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