Couple face further questions over Madeleine

AN Italian man and Portuguese woman who allegedly tried to extort money from the parents of missing British four-year-old Madeleine McCann remained in custody in southern Spain yesterday pending further questioning, a police spokeswoman said.

Police arrested the two in the exclusive Sotogrande district of San Roque town on Thursday. A judge in the nearby town of Torremolinos has taken charge of the case and placed a secrecy order on investigations, meaning police will not be able to comment on developments, the spokeswoman said.

The detainees were only identified by their initials.