McCanns heartened by children in Morocco

BEAMING for the first time in 39 days, Kate McCann was embraced by hoards of Moroccan children yesterday as she took the search for her kidnapped daughter to north Africa.

More than 100 children gathered around her and husband Gerry in the nation’s capital Rabat, holding posters of Madeleine high above their heads.

They danced and chanted the four-year-old’s name for almost an hour as the couple met up with a child welfare organisation.

The young crowd was flanked by two large posters, one of which read: “Stop! Return Madeleine to her family. Please, please, please.”

The other said: “No, no, no to Innocence Exploitation.”

The McCanns looked genuinely moved by the show of support, delighting in the cheery spectacle before them and shaking as many small hands as possible.

Ms McCann described the scene as the “best welcome we could have had to Morocco”.

She added: “If Moroccan children are anything to go by we have a very good chance of getting Madeleine back, it is very emotional, very lovely.”

Mr McCann said he was overwhelmed by the children’s display: “It is totally unexpected and it gives us tremendous heart.

“We believe she will be found in whatever country she is in. I truly believe that if Madeleine is in Morocco we will find her.”

Morocco is the final stop on the McCann’s series of visits to foreign countries to raise Madeleine’s profile.

They visited the Moroccan League for the Protection of Children to voice their fears about Madeleine’s whereabouts.

“There has been no evidence that she is still in Portugal,” said Mr McCann.

Morocco has featured prominently in the hunt for Madeleine with a sighting in Marrakech six days after her abduction.