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A DIPLOMATIC war is looming between Britain and Portugal
over the probe into Madeleine McCann's disappearance.
Portuguese police are fuming after a Home Office official said UK
officers were taking "all possible steps" to further the inquiry, the
Daily Star Sunday can reveal.
The assurance came in a letter to a member of the public, though police
here have always said they only co-ordinate and complete inquiries for
Portuguese investigators - who have shelved the case.
Strained
One Portuguese officer told us: "There has been a suspicion for a long
while that British police are going behind our backs. We need
explanations."
A government source said: "There have been many sensitive issues
surrounding the case. Relations have, at times, been strained between
the two countries and this will not help."
British inquiries have been handled by police in Leicestershire, the
home of Maddie's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.
A force spokesman said: "Any deployment of officers to Portugal to work
on the inquiry from the UK would have to be requested and sanctioned by
the Portuguese authorities."
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