http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/05/madeleine-mcann-parents-encouraged-by-progressMadeleine McCann parents encouraged by progress made by police in Portugal
Kate and Gerry McCann break silence to urge people to 'refrain from spreading rumours'
The parents of Madeleine McCann have said they are "encouraged" by the progress made by detectives searching scrubland near the Portuguese holiday resort where the girl went missing seven years ago.
Kate and Gerry McCann, who have not travelled to Portugal, urged people to "refrain from spreading rumours" as they broke their silence on the latest police operation.
As detectives began searching the underground sewerage network in Praia da Luz, the McCanns responded on Facebook.
"We would like to ask people to refrain from spreading rumours and speculation based on inaccurate press reporting," they wrote.
"We are kept updated on the ongoing work in Portugal and are encouraged by the progress.
"Thank you for continuing to stand by us and supporting our efforts to get Madeleine home."
Madeleine McCann went missing in May 2007, aged three.
An administrator for the Official Find Madeleine Facebook page later said the girl's parents, from Rothley in Leicestershire, had been asked not to visit Praia da Luz while the search is under way.
A post on the page said: "To those commenting on why Gerry and Kate are not in Portugal, it's because they were asked to not go there. Please let the police do their job.
"And anyone posting their sanctimonious comments about leaving children alone will be banned. No questions asked. We've heard it all before. ENOUGH with the judging." The McCanns' statement came at the end of the a fifth day of searches in a six-hectare (15-acre) spread of dense scrubland, where officers on Thursday prised open manholes and inspected sewer pipes using micro cameras and fibre optic cables.
