Children from the mountains of this region often have blue eyes and blonde hair. Yes, it is very obvious the parents are innocent here, however the main attention at this moment must be on Madeleine. Whatever has happened, this poor innocent child has suffered. This is what any loving parent would want, which her parents both are.

sally, Herne Bay, England

I really hope that this is Madeleine; she does look like her.
It is also very interessting how Portuguese police is handeling this case - unbelieveable. And now they are saying that it is illegal to hire a privet investigators that are investigating on Portuguesen ground. Are they really affraid that people in EU will descover that police work in Portugal is not so proffesional as it seems. And all this now when they are presiding the EU.

Dear McCann's do not loose a hope of finding Madeleine. I believe you and have faith in you.

Tina, Ljubljana, Slovenia

I must say, seeing this picture has given me a "funny" feeling of hope. I never get "chills" BUT this, for some reason has given me a stomach ache, chills and for some reason I can't get it off my mind. I have an extremely positive feeling. The picture honestly does resemble Madeline. I have followed this case, read ALL blogs and studied ALL photos since day one. I have two young children and could NEVER imagine going through what this family has gone through. I pray that this will have a happy ending and maybe a huge break through in the case. I was thinking maybe whoever took Maddie just got scarred and possibly left her along the road somewhere and someone picked her up, maybe they don't have the resources such as television or news over there, therefore prohibiting them to understand that she belongs elsewhere. All of the publicity could've possibly frightened whoever took her resulting in leaving her, maybe this is why they are "in the open with a blonde haired girl..over there?

Wendy , belleville, michigan

They are not women in the photo. They are clearly men dressed as women. Women with a small girl would look less suspicious then a group of men with a little girl.

Michelle, Melbourne, Australia

While the girl may look like Madeleine, don't forget, that Berbers, original inhabitants of Africa are direct descendants of Vikings and are generally very blonde and blue eyed. I would, thouhg, like to see an extensive search through Morocco for Madeleine and other missing children (please remember she is not the only missing child in the world)

Nika, Prague, CZ

Ok folks,go get her. Now!

Mark Clarke, Las Vegas, Nevada

I hope they find her and it saddens me to think what Maddie and thousands of kids like her must be going through.
The Portuguese police are being very selfish by not allowing the McCanns to hire private detectives. Just why not?

Rhea, Bangalore, India

I was rather disbelieving when I read this, then shocked when I saw the picture. Despite the blurry outline I instantly recognised Madeleine. Let's hope they get on to this without the perpetrators being alerted - it would be so easy to disappear into nothingness there.

Trish , Noosaville, Australia

Everyone would love for this to be true - for Maddie to be alive and well, with no harm having befallen her. If you look closely, however, the natural part of the girl's hair in the photo appears to be the opposite of that in Maddie's photo. I do hope the McCann's find their Maddie, but I do not think this is her.

scott, St. Louis, USA

If there is even a slight possibility that a "legitimate, promising lead" exists as to locating and recovering Madeline, there need be less media coverage as to such facts. Since the entire world is tuned into the development of all current facts, invesitgations and coverage on this case, alerting any possible suspects will only "forewarn" the kidnappers and hence, they will be less likely to remain in the public's eye, making it more difficult to locate the child. Try to put a lid on this type of evidence... keep it confidential and by all means follow-up on the leads, in a more discreet manner.

Isauro G. Farias, Brownsville, Texas, USA

Robert from Abbotsford, so sorry to bother you with this 4 month story.
I mean it is only about a family trying to find their missing daughter.
What could be more important than that.You tell me?

James, London, UK

I certainly hope that this is the lead that brings this whole nightmare to an end.

I would back any call for a Europe, in fact worldwide, set of protocols on missing children as this would surely take it out of the hands of local police, who obviously care more about their ego's than missing children they are charged with looking for.

If it was my child I would have hired private investigators from word go, regardless of the ramifications. Kate and Gerry ,keep searching and never 'leave a stone unturned' in your efforts to find Madeleine.

jacci, cape town, south africa

I hope and pray this is her and she is found. It would be a better ending to a long sad drama. Certainly better ending than what they are saying about her parents. Let's hope for the best..

Cindi, Interlochen, USA/Michigan

why did the Clara Torres only take a picture is she tought it was the missing child? Must people would run up to the child and try to save her, not just take a picture. I hope this story turns out to be true but it seems a bit weird.

cathy, irvine, ca

Doubt that it is Madeleine McCann might just be her double (someone that look like her). Middle East Arabs/Muslim Arabs in Africa are fair/blond in looks. My mother has travelled and on many occasions mentioned that she saw the double of a particular family member. I read the comments and thought if funny that people think it is Madeleine. I looked at the picture and the girls looks much younger than Madeleine.

fahima, Cape Town, South Africa

While this is a tragedy, the aftermath, including the publicity, and, yes, the investigation as well, have become incredibly silly, and merely a means to sell newspapers. There are many snub-nosed, little blonde girls with bangs throughout the world; one out-of-focus photo is hardly the stuff of any kind of ID.

We may never know what happened to this poor child, but she will continue to sell newspapers, won't she?

Alessandra, New York,

Journalists & Readers appear to be totally uninformed.

Control Risks Group is a World Leader in the field of Kidnap negotiation.

The Portuguese police (& other police forces of the world) are novices in comparison. To refer to CRG in the same sentence as 'Private Investigator' is absurd.

The "safe recovery" (mission statement) of Madeleine is more assured in the hands of CRG than the Portuguese police.

Richard, Bucharest, Romania

Wow, what a stroke of luck finding this girl who 'could be Maddie.'

Funnily enough, I saw at least little 20 girls who look like Maddie when I was out shopping at the weekend - I'll have to take my camera with me this week!

How much can I get for a 'possible sighting' photo of a random toddler in Brussels do you think? I'm going for a grand, The Sun or The Express would pay, no problem...

Clive, Brussels,

Before everyone gets into a frenzy, please remember that the Berber people of North Africa are blond and have comparatively fair skin.

Pelotard, Stockholm, Sweden

Either those are men dressed as women, or Morocco has some HOMELY women! Check out the "woman" walking behind Maddie. Both of them are very manly looking.
Hope the McCanns send their PI to Morocco NOW.

s benoit, Macon, ga

everything should be done in secret. This only gives the ones with her time to hide her! It surely looks like her to me!!

Robey Harrison, Samson, Alabama / U.S.A.

At first glance the picture was beleiveable. However, the way the child is positioned on this person's back is odd. Just the head is visible, and its almost as if the head alone was superimposed. I have worn one of those slings before with my children, and it was very bulky with a child that size. There is no way she could just shrink into that individual's back loike that without seeing a leg, arm, etc sticking out.

Kristina, Syracuse, NY

Definitely Madeleine. I just know it.

Berenice, Perth, Australia

Theres several things that are unsettling about this photo: If the woman who took it had time to frame the shot thinking it was Maddie, why on earth did she not approach the group to check? If she was passing in a car and took the photo, surely some of the image would be blurred. Also, if we imagine that this group of people is a 'family' the girl in the orange t-shirt does seem to have facial features very similar to the child in the sling. Lastly, surely there is nowhere in Europe where Madeleine would not be recognised on a daily basis with the amount of press coverage this case has generated.
As much as I wish it was a credible lead that puts an end to this whole sorry story, I don't think this picture is of Maddie. Certainly if it turns out to be a hoax, as in a deliberately tampered picture, the people responsible need locking up.

R J, Leeds, Uk

Like everyone else, I want the child in the photo to be Madeleine McCann, but we need to be realistic. While she certainly resembles Maddie, she also strongly resembles my own blonde 3 year old and no doubt the young daughters of many other readers. That said, the lead should of course be followed up.

Ciaran, Brussels,

I think the photo is a good likeness of madeleine, the way the little girls fringe goes over to the side on the right side, like a cow flick, which i have noticed in a couple of her photos. really hope so anyway.

Lorraine, Manchester, England

I really do hope and pray that this is Maddeleine and I do believe that she could very well be in Morocco but being married to a Moroccan Berber and having a very large Berber family I know that some of the children do look European and have pale skin and blonde hair. The Berbers are Caucasian and not at all like there Arab brothers who only arrived in Morocco in the 7th Century - The Berbers are the original inhabitants and no - one is really sure where they originated but they do look European (many people can't believe my husband is Moroccan)

Hannah Naatit, Milton Keynes, UK

Just re-read some of these daft remarks now that WE KNOW the child in the picture is not Maddie and that brown north African farmers have a broad enough gene pool to produce blond offspring (shock, horror).

Great to know that good ole xenephopia is alive and well in 21st century UK.

DeeGee, London, UK

Lu from Alemeria, Spain, what do you have against the Portuguese, may I ask?

How about now us being against the spanih woman who shamefully put this picture in the media without sending it first to the PJ, who are in charge of the investigation? The PJ didn't even know about this photo!!

That Clara Torres should be ashamed for putting that Moroccan mother in all the tabloids all over the world as an "abductor" and even as looking as a man , like many here said!!

You are all very good PC detectives aren't you?

Teresa, Lisbon, Portugal

Why do so many people in the West find it so hard to believe there can be indigenous blonde-haired, fair-skinned children in Morocco? Read any textbook and you will see that the North African nation has always been a melting pot of ethnicities.

Deepan, London, U.K

Very good, I reckon the McCann's are involved in this photo somehow, to try and get the attention off them..

Adam Webb, MK, UK

The child in the photo looks like my niece when she was young, who looked like my sister at that age.
Dont get too excited everybody, wait for confirmation or denial before passing judgements.

Pete , St Albans,

I sure hope someone is already on location checking this out. The picture fills me with new hope that Madeleine WILL be found alive. Please let her come home to her Family in England. The world could do with a happy endning to this story! - but if I may make a comment, the first thing that hit me in the picture is the masculine body dressed in black walking behind Madeleine .....please someone ........get her home safely! NOW!

Michelle Bersan, Breukelen, The Netherlands

You do get fair haired Arabs, Persians and Moroccans you know. Some newspapers have quoted witnesses saying the child was being carried by a Muslim woman, what in that photo proves the woman was Muslim? Non-Muslim women wear traditional dress too. The woman in the photo is light-skinned also, it could be her child. They are probably Berber's.

Mia, London,

My greatest prayer now is that the photo does indeed reveal that it is Madeleine. At least then the police will no longer be groping in the dark and jumping to ridiculous conclusions. The Mc Cann family remains constantly in our thoughts and prayers.

Vicky, Cradock, South Africa

Vicky Schoeman, Cradock, South Africa

Has anyone else had the thought as to why these people would have a young white girl when all of them are obviously of different cultures? Even if tests prove it not to be Maddie, it still could be someone else's child.

Marie, Wales,

The blur on the face of the person carrying the girl is a smudge on the windscreen of the car where the picture was taken from. How unfortunate!

Juan, London,

As a professional graphic designer with daily work retouching photographs I have to say that, much as I pray this is finally a clue to Madeleine's disappearance, it looks like a retouch job to me.

Kate, Stroud, UK

Given that the child is smaller than the McCanns twins it is not her. The average height for someone Maddies age is just over 3 feet tall. The head of a child is also larger in preportion to their body at this age.. The child in the photo is no older than 18 months..

Joey Pica, Manchseter, Lancashire

The quality of the picture is so bad that you cannot say it´s her or not. Besides, there are so many strange things about this case that I think we will never know the true.

The new PR has so many contacts and influence that they can make us believe anything they want...or not? It would not be the first time media make us believe something that it´s not true.

People should not judge the parents and the police portuguese neither. Hopefully time will show us the true...but as I said...i am not sure we will know the true.

Alba, Madrid, Spain

All these people who have supposidly seen Maddie, why havent any of these such people gone up to the people and questioned it? Or if scared of that at least follow them and call the authorities?

If all these sightings have been genuine then this whole thing would of ended at the very first sighting.

Kam, London, UK

at last - now we're getting things back to where they should always have been - a hunt for a missing child as opposed to a witch hunt against her poor parents. Could this really be Maddie?Oh God, how I hope it is.....

rhianna ferreira, cardigan, wales, uk

Interesting the family is carrying a lot of luggage. Where did they come from or where are they going? I'm not familiar with Morrocan village life, but if they are a poorer family, would they really be taking so much luggage? Could they really afford such a long vacation? And if they are a wealthier family, could they not hire a taxi to help them with the luggage?

Claudia , Atlanta, USA

It is significant that a photo has been taken of an African woman carrying a blonde child, as their own children are not blonde in any way. Whether the child in the photo is the missing Maddy or not, this situation must be investigated as the child is obviously not hers in any case.

Humphrey, Bishopstoke, Hampshire, UK

I think this child is a little small to be Maddie, however I'd be delighted to be proved wrong. What is this blonde girl doing with this family? It looks likely they could easily be found, they are moving all of their possesions! Surley any new resident in a different village could be easily pointed out. I hope this is not a houx photo, with a blonde girl superimposed, quite easy t do these days. Most of all I hope this is Maddie and she can be quickly reunited with her family!

Ray B, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

This is rediculous. You have three reported sightings in Morocco for this young toddler and yet no swift action has been taken to look for her. Lazy performance by Moroccan police. For god sake find the girl and hope that she is safe.

velah, Brisbane, Australia

Some questions about this picture.
1. Why would a four-year-old be in a sling?
2. Isn't the child in the picture a bit small for a 4-y-o?
3. Isn't it possible that by using digital techniques, another impression could have been superimposed on what was a different child's head?
4. If the photographer of this scene was concerned enough to take the picture because of suspicions that the child might be Madeleine, why were the police not informed immediately?

Alan , Llanerchymedd, Wales

As I live in Morocco, it is not uncommon to see fair-skinned, blonde-haired infants, especially in the Rif/Fes region. As far as the "odd facial" appearance of the elderly woman carrying the child that is not unommon either due to lots of sun and hard outdoor labor. As a parent of 3 children my deepest hope is it really is Madeline and she can be reunited with her family soonest.

Expat in Morocco, Casablanca, Morocco

First of all sorry for my english because i don´t speak it and i have not a high level of writting.
In the photograph i am so scared because the woman who carry the girl seems to be a man.
I hope the girl will be Madeleine.

Maria, Madrdi, Spain

Do people seriously believe this group of people look like child traffickers....part of a world wide paedophile ring? Remember this sighting is recent so I assume these are the people raising her?

Charlotte, Richmond, Yorkshire,

Does the child look like Madeleine? Or is she just another little blonde girl, and we're so used to looking that she looks like Madeleine to us?

How many tourists - white families, with young blonde daughters - would there be in Morocco at the point when the sighting took place? From memory, there were a heck of a lot. We were one of them, and I could dig up holiday snaps damn similar to that, from a decade ago. Any of which, if you blurred them to that degree, would have people going "It's Maddie!" when in fact, it's a completely unrelated child.

R.Beaumont, Manchester, England

The photo could be a fake! Digital gymnastics are easy on a computer. Why did it take this tourist so long to release the picture? Are these people still walking along that road?

Remember the forensic scientist in Belgium convinced Maddy was there?

One thing is certain, that is a man with a little girl on his back - broad shoulders, narrow hips and look at the jaw line.

J Brown, Ayr, Scotland

I looked at the photo in the Times when I got to work this morning and instantly thought it was her. I really hope it is.

The Portugese police need a rocket put somewhere after their handling of the case.

My thoughts are with the family, and little Maddie. If that is her, she must be missing her family terribly and be extremely confused. Let's hope it's her

Will , Manchester, England

The person behind looks like a man too!

Lucy, canterbury, uk

look at this girls center parting the hair is dark the rest is dyed hair

shar, sheffield, uk

The supposed "woman" carrying the little girl looks like a man dressed up; someone trying to disguise himself and to make this suspicious troupe look less dodgy. I just keep praying Madeleine's true parents are reunited with her. I believe that the Portuguese police are not to be trusted.

Fiona, Warwickshire,

Blow the photo up to 800% and it looks like the person carrying the child might have a close beard, and possibly be wearing glasses. The person's stance/walk looks like a man's. This is definitely not a woman. Plus, why carry the child? To make sure she doesn't run off? Who are these people? Travellers? Locals to the area or on holiday?

Phil, Manchester, UK

hope this is maddie and she is found safe and well and unharmed by all this!!! my thoughts go out to her family

sammy , liverpool, uk

This photo really does look like Maddie. How I hope it is. I hope this can be sorted out and they can have her back before Christmas. What a gift that would be! If these people in the photo have taken her I hope they have taken care of her.

Karen Lee, adelaide, sa

A simple close up photograph of the little girl's face would have solved the mystery.She has a keyhole shaped pupil.Why couldn't the tourist have gone up to the lady and said 'what a beautiful girl you have and taken a close up of her face??!!

david, hong kong, hong kong

First time I saw Madeleine's photo on the metro station in Greece I started crying. And I am crying now. I hope that she is alive and that her parents will find her soon. However, I think that this kind of propaganda won't help. I am sure that the kidnappers or those that take care of this dolly, follow the news and that they will move her somewhere else as soon as they find out that somebody saw her. Be careful if you want to help.
I pray for this girl.
Marija, Serbia

Marija, Niš, Serbia

I find it bizzare if not shocking to say that this girl is "Maddy".

WHY would a Moroccan woman want a faired European child? Would it not look a wee bit odd?

Are people losing the plot? Are they simply creating a smokescreen to take the bad look of the McCanns in terms of neglect and so on?

IN Scotland if people took picture of young kids like that they would be charged with Breach of the Peace. Its shocking that people are putting cameras in the faces of such children. Sickening, in fact.

How many more sighting will we get this week?

Clare Brown, glasgow, Scotland

Dear God, please let it be Maddie, I pray they find her soon. This whole situation is just so sad...

Michelle, London, UK

To the person who says it has just been announced that the picture is not Madeleine. I don't think people were condemning a group of poor North African women of being involved in such a vile crime. Please where has it been announced? Everything has got to be published, it is part of the find Maddie campaign. The world has got to see every picture of Maddie possible, that is the only way she will be found. P.S. those people do not look poor, the girls are dressed very trendy (jeans) for North Africa!!!

Michelle, London, UK

1. The hidden woman looks elegant. 2. The "Muslim" woman? looks white. 3. The carrier looks like a disguised man. 4. I hope CEOP takes a close look at the older child as well. 5. If it's Madeleine she doesn't look very happy at all. 6. Picture looks strange, might be doctored.

Dany, Munich, Germany

whatever you might think about this case, it has been in the public eye throughout and will now remain there until it is resolved in some way, perhaps necessarily in terms of people's names and reputations.
whoever is responsible, ultimately it IS a 4 year old girl, who could still be alive has had no say in any of these events. however people feel about how the case has been brought to the world's attention, there IS still a child missing, and there IS potential new evidence to be examined.

J wilson, coventry,

The photo is not Madeleine McCann, but a 3 year-old Moroccan girl named, Bushra Binhisa .... but the important thing is that strangers are aware and providing information, which is a good thing.

Marlene, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

I believe this is Madeline. I am 54 years old, but I would have taken the chance. I would have approached the child and spoken English and if the child had spoken back in English I would have made sure that something was done, even if it meant that I myself would have done it. I cannot believe that the police in these countries are allowing this. It makes my bood boil. What do they think they are playing at. It just puts me off ever visiting these countries if this is how they treat a child.

Sandra Cooper, Manchester, England

Very Interesting to read all the hysteria in this comments. Nowadays everyone is a detective and everyone knows anything about this case.

I'm sorry to disappoint all the ones who where 99% sure it was maddy, but it has been confirmed that the woman carrying that child is really a woman and that the child is her daughter.

In Maroco it is frequent to see blond children, if some of the "experts" in this comment box just left their home and computer screen and would visit the world they wouldn't say some of the things said.

Even more interesting is to see how the media quickly got the picture. Who delivered it? The spanish tourist mentioned that she only delivered it to the British embassy...

Luis Morais, Lisbon, Portugal

The child in the photo is NOT Madeleine ... this was announced earlier today ... the child is a 3-year-old Moroccan girl.

Marlene, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

That little girl resembles most young, blond hair little girls with the same hair style. With the poor quality of the photo I can see a resemblance to my own daughter. Hopefully the authorities are doing everything they can to figure out who the child is and if it is Maddie. My prayer is that Maddie will be found safe and that her parents had no more involvement than the obvious neglect by leaving their children alone. Hopefully parents in general will begin to see the risks of not finding an appropriate sitter for young children.

A Mom, Midwestern, USA

These comments are madness. You are 99% sure it is her? It must be her because she is looking into the camera? Because she is not wearing a hat? A woman of not obvious beauty must be a man in a dress? You are letting your imaginations run away with you. My heart goes out to the McCanns and I hope very much that Maddy is found healthy and well but let's keep our emotions in check.

Katie, London,

As everyone else, I too hope this is Madeleine, even if it only confirms that she was and hopefully still still alive. Unfortunately, the chances of that picture being the little girl is slim, unless the person carrying her is either completely unaware that the whole world is looking for her, is stupid or mentally deranged. Do they not have TV or newspapers where this little girl was seen?

Magdelane Heart, Oslo,

I would like to make Lu´s words mine , fully agree
with everything said !
Will pray that tomorrow when reading the papers
the headlines will show Madeleine was indeed
that little girl and she has been found and is
safe being reunited with her family .
Find it particularly revolting that any law of
any country should prohibit a parent to do everything
he or she possibly can to find a missing child.
What are they scared of ? That it gets proven that
they didnt bother to look for the little girl as they should
have, or rather that they are unable to ?? It is easier
to blame the parents ofcourse , that does not require
any effort at all, and how convenient it is !!
The EU should have compatible laws for member
countries , this way we would avoid such weird and
backward ruling !

Ana , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil

I agree with Robert from Abbotsford!

Wouldn't you immediately try to talk to the girl and people with her??? I can't begin to understand why not one of the "Maddie spotters" did so! Can anyone explain?

Annie, Norwich,

If this was kept quiet then the chance of finding her would be much higher.

Dane, Stowmarket,

This alarms me. This child is obviously not her and probably isn't anyone else either but who the actual child's father says it is. This has the potential for vigilantism. People seeing every blond girl as Madeline and then taking photos or calling police or creating hysteria could cause harm to innocent people. It also must make the parents sick to hear these possible sightings. For the woman who took the photo to say it gave her chills is creepy....there is too much hysteria in this case.

eve, london, uk

I DO think that the little girl in the photo is Madeleine. But It is a MAN who is carrying Madeleine on his back and not a woman. Look at the photo again and scale it up....it is a man with a hat on his head to hide. I just can't figure why a peasant "scruffy" looking group of people who are walking with luggage would have Madeleine? Where were they going with luggage? It is odd. If it is Madeleine I pray for her safety and PLEASE British police move swiftly to find her! I hope all of this is the truth....for the McCanns sake to have their little girl back home safely. The world needs this miracle for the Mccanns. and for a happy ending for Madeleine. God help Madeleine.

Ginny, Chicago, USA

I hope this is her...But what I fear is that her possible kidnappers are keeping a close eye on all media reports, and will flee with her before authorities are able to locate the child (assuming she is alive). Sad story - but hopefully it will eventually have a happy ending.

Carolyn, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

Notice that the little blonde girl being carried is not the only person in the photo looking at the photographer. There is also an older girl walking, who does not appear to be Moroccan and is looking at the camera with what appears to be a fearful expression. Could this be another kidnapped child seeking help? It is worth investigating this child as well as the tiny one, who does indeed resemble Madeleine.

Anna, Endwell, USA

I don't think this is Madeleine. This child looks around two and a half, three at the most.

Her (clearly natural) parting is on the opposite side to all the official photos of Madeleine.

Seasider, Seahaven,

This is EXACTLY like Alfred Hitchcock's "The Man who Knew Too Much!" Watch it!

Meg W., Winston-Salem, NC/USA

That looks like her! I hope they get someone into that country and find that child - to determine whether or not it really is. God bless the McCanns and may He help Madeleine find her way home.

Susy, Iowa, USA

What about the cowlick in the hair of the little girl in the Morocco photo? It looks like it is in other photos of Madeleine. How about doing facial recognition on the OTHER people in the photos and trying to locate them? I truly hope that this is a lead and that Madeleine can be reunited with her family.

Kate, Marietta, GA/USA

I pray that it is Madeliene. Please GOD, let it be her. ALIVE.

Claudia, Bucks,

It is quite easy to find the people in n the picture and ask them who the child is. Why hasn't anyone done this?

Lucy, Peace River, Alberta

The child in the picture looks too young to be Madeleine.

gg, Atlanta, Georgia

I can't imagine seeing a child that closely resembles Madeline and only taking a picture and not doing anything, not confronting these people. I would risk the embarrassment of my mistake should it not be her. As far as her not wearing protection from the sun, if you re-read the report it does state that child was wearing a hat and a gust of wind had blown it off.
McCanns need to find a way to raise the funds and get Equu-search or Control Risk Group etc. completely involved in this quest to find Madeleine and stop wasting time relying on the law enforcement groups bogged down with bureaucratic nonsense, ego trips, compacency, and international jurisdictional squabbling.
Get her found!

Josepha M., Cedar Rapids, USA

It saddens me that the Portuguese Police have absolutely no enthusiasm whatsoever in finding this little girl. As the daughter of Portuguese immigrants, I believe this case has put the otherwise beautiful country in a bad light. I do believe that this may indeed be little Maddy. If there have been other sightings of a similar child in the same area, why haven't they investigated these sightings? It's outrageous. And to tell them that they are not allowed to hire their own investigators in the search of their daughter? I would tell them exactly what they can do with their restrictions and protocol. Who the hell are they to put binds on the search of a child? I understand that there is evidence to incriminate the McCanns, however, this should not impede the investigation in the search of that child. They should still be following each and every lead, no matter the importance or lack there of. This case is starting to infuriate me.

Adriana, Boca Raton, Florida

Doesn't the other litle girl resemble Joana Cipriano, the little girl who disappeared only 7 miles from where Maddy disappeared. She was 8/9 in 2004....

Bec, Wales, UK

Why did she hand it to the British Embassy and not the police?
And why did she contact the MCcann lawyers and not the police? All sounds fishy to me.
Get a photo of a child with a mark in the eye and then print an article on it - this is irrelevant - looks like a little boy anyway!!!

Helen, Coventry,

It could very well be her ,if you notice the bangs fall the very way little madeleines bangs do.It could be well worth the search.Lets dont give up.This child could very well be waiting for her mommie and daddie to find her.

marsha, newton, il.

Every time you see a blonde girl in Morocco doesn't mean its her. Madeline woulnd't be the only blonde. From what I see the girl in the picture is not her.

Marilyn, Miami, FL,

With all the publicity by now she will no longer be in Morocco. Unless those people that have her are really stupid. Hopefully they don't watch the news and can't read.

Gerald L. Byers, Red Bluff, California

There is no harm in checking! At the end of the day, there are so far no answers to this mysterious story of Maddy and I hope for the parent's sake, it is her and that she is still alive!

Ellie, London,

The people in the photograph have been treated appallingly by the British media. They were going about their business and now have been touted as being linked in an international child abduction case. I wonder if all the rich people flocking to throw money at the McCanns will likewise enable this other family to seek redress from the British courts, should this prove to be an outrageous slur?

Kate Winspur, Melbourne, Australia

What were the circumstances leading to this photo not being made public for over 3 weeks?

Paul H, Bangkok,

How big is the reward for Madeleine? Two and half million pounds. And here are poor peasants walking around with their belongings in a wheelbarrow alongside the road and a 2.5 million child with them.
And British or Portuguese police have no jurisdiction in other countries. It's up to Moroccon police to investigate.

megs, amsterdam, Netherlands

if tis child is Maddy - I do hope and pray that she will be reuinited with family soon.
Mrs G of Essex

Carol, Colchester, Essex

It sure looks like Maddy. Also it appears she is looking straight into the camera. Like she's trying to catch attention to herself. Poor little baby. I hope it's her and she will be found

Lydia, McAllen,

I agree with Yvonee that this person may not be female. It's also very odd that there are two blue markings over the breasts only. Very strange and akwardly bizzare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do pray they find Madeleine soon!

angela, Norfolk, Virginia, US

What right has this Spanish woman to disclose the photo to the media? I don't see how it helps Madeleine. If it's her on the photo the people holding her already vanished as they now know that the police will be looking for them. If it's not her these people's reputation is trashed.

If you have a blond child around 4 years old you may be the next one on newspaper frontpages. People, and especially the media, really should get a sanity check.

Ana, Braga, Portugal

This has certainly been handled well.Nothing like giving plenty of advanced warning so that if this was the McCann girl she could be whisked away where she can't be found.

ron, toronto,

Bob Andrews comments make me angry,how can he be so certain that the little girl in the photo is not Maddy. All sightings especially with photo evidence have to be explored. What must it be like to be four years old and to suddenly find you have been taken away from your family Maddy must have been terrified. As for the anguish and pain her parents must be suffering we can only imagine.

lmorris, hertford, england

Regadless if this picture is of maddie, police need to investigate who this little girl is, several people have seen her and the resmemblnce is very similar, of course the photo is poor quality and resoution, experts will try and use sophitcated face mapping software to see if it really is maddie, this must be investigated, it is too much of coindence to ignore, i am waiting for news from the britsh police , I have always belived that Kate and Gerry were innocent, they are loving parents who are going through a never ending nightmare, i just hope it is all over for them very soon,

ikhlaq, birmingham, united kingdom

The 'woman' carrying her seems 'not quite right' somehow like maybe it's a man disguising himself as a woman. If you enhance the picture the little girl greatly resembles Madeleine and it is certainly worth looking into this. Where are they headed? Is there a ferry or bus nearby? Some one, some where knows these people. Issue a reward and they will come forward. If they investigate and it's not her then no problem but to assume it's not and not do anything would be a tragedy.

L. Braun, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

I totally agree with you Bob Andrews, Paris ...
People should read and know more about Berbers
before writing nonsense opinions here.

Yasmin, Campinas, Brasil

Though I am not at all familiar with the ethnicity of people of that region, this should be thoroughly investigated. If it is not Madelaine, then no harm done and the proper authorities have done their job. But, what if it is Maddy?

Jean, Gonzales, LA, USA

Regadless if this picture is of maddie, police need to investigate who this little girl is, several people have seen her and the resmemblnce is very similar, of course the photo is poor quality and resoution, experts will try and use sophitcated face mapping software to see if it really is maddie, this must be investigated, it is too much of coindence to ignore, i am waiting for news from the britsh police , I have always belived that Kate and Gerry were innocent, they are loving parents who are going through a never ending nightmare, i just hope it is all over for them very soon,
As for the point of view why all the other people have the heads covered look to be a religious reason, women always cover there heads, they look to be islam or on the sects close to islam,
i have used some of the best photo manipumation software, and have come to the firm opionion that yes this is maddie, i have sent my results to the kate and gerry via there official website,
thanks

ikhlaq, birmingham, united kingdom

It has just been announced that the girl in the photograph is NOT Madeleine. She has been named as the daughter of a farmer. Shame on ALL those people so quick to condemn a group of poor North African women of being involved in such a vile crime and for the press for encouraging such blatant racism.

Jane Gray, London, England

I hope it is her. Even if there are lots of fair haired girls in Morocco, you would think there would be someone in that family she was with that looked like her. Everyone else in the photo had dark skin and dark hair.

Lora, Horsham, UK, UK

When I look at that picture I see a boy leading men dressed like women carrying Madeline. In fact is that a short grey beard on the person carrying her? I fear for her.

Abbey, St. Charles , IL

It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard/seen. What next?

This girl is just a natural Berber from Morocco. Blonde hair (and at times blue eyes ) are normal and endemic in Berber Regions. The number of blonde children can reach more than 30% in some villages in Berber mountains.
This is histeria. There is no way this little girl is Maddy.
This whole story sucks, something is not right.

Bob Andrews, Paris,

It is Interpol together with Maroccan detectives who investigates in Marocco. Portuguese and Spanish police have not such an area of jurisdiction ...

Maria , Madrid, Spain

why didnt the person stop to check the little girl. and i think it is her because the family looks spanish and the girl looks english alsoi why have they got lots of stuff and walking.

tom palfrey, bristol, keysham

Children from the mountains of this region often have blue eyes and blonde hair. Yes, it is very obvious the parents are innocent here, however the main attention at this moment must be on Madeleine. Whatever has happened, this poor innocent child has suffered. This is what any loving parent would want, which her parents both are.

sally, Herne Bay, England

But if it really was Madeleine why is she "paraded" around?
Wouldn't they try to change the color of her hair and to hide her? But of course I wish it was her.

krystyna hellström, stockholm, sweden

There were lots of sightings going around a few months ago of a 'Madeleine' lookalike also with a couple of women with pushchairs being pushed around in a pushchair with what was obviously was a black wig on, i think this was Malta or North Africa, several people reported these sightings, lets hope the authorities take it seriously this time.

Nita, Nottingham, UK

I feel yes it really looks like Maddy. The eye spacing even from a distance.... the hair.... Oh! My God... for the child's sake I do pray that it is her. Please let it be!

Linda, Portage, IN

If that girl is Maddeleine, what the hell are being doing the Portuguese and British police all this time? Anyway I think it is nos convenient to show this photo so soon, now the kidnappers could hide the girl again in another place. Congratulations to Spanish radio station COPE, but this is an information only to be known by the family and the Interpol. Thanks and aim from Spain

Miguel Angel, Jerez, Spain

Enough, enough, enough of this tragedy, every day a new picture, every day a new headline, every day a new accusation, every day a new suspect. This should have been stopped by all a long, long time ago. The police should have been free to do their job without this obscene circus. Stop it, stop now we are weary of your suspicions, of your wretched judgements, we are weary full stop.

mike, lincoln , u.k.

I say - let the Portugese police and authorities prosecute the McCanns for using their own PI. The most important thing is to get Maddie back home any way possible where she belongs. I hope their PI's are now searching in the area. This child (hopefully Maddie) looks to have much paler skin than Moroccans. Good luck to the McCanns.

JJ, Chiclana de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain

It is high time that the British police stepped in and took control - I know it flies in the face of established protocol (I used to work at Scotland Yard) but somewhere there is a very scared four year-old who needs her parents. The Portugese police seem more interested in crucifying the parents than finding a vulernable child and have even suggested prosecuting them for carrying out their own searches. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

ANNETTE, SOLIHULL, UK

I agree with Yvonne, the person looks like a man, in the face and the way to stand, to walk,
even if we can see some breast,it could be faked easily

gineste, andernos les bains, france

The media should be more careful. Showing this picture could push the kidnapper to get rid of the problem, if you know what I mean. I wish not. I think the way is to work back to back with the moroccian authorities to finally find the kid. They'll be more effective than Portuguese Police (not very difficult) and hopefully we could celebrate good news soon. I send all my support to the McCanns, I never believed they could cause any injury to their daughter.

Marius, Barcelona, CAT

Bureaucracy can kill.

What's more important to them is their pride and face: their theories just can't be wrong, ate the cost of pushing innocents into jail and let abducted child in a neverending nightmare.

Sorry to see that portuguese police does act like our southern italian police ... an all too familiar tune

bruno, Bressa, Padania

This story has taken so many twists and turns that nothing would surprise me. I find the McCaans publicity hungry and devious, but I hope little Maddie is found alive.

Hamad lone, ex-pat brit, Middle East

She looks a bit too small?

Frank Upton, Soliuhll,

Whats striking about this picture is that this little girl is the only one out of all the the women in the picture actually looking in the direction of where this picture was taken from.

Could this mean she is trying to reach out or looking for someone familiar? Or is the pictured doctored?

Nathan, Johannesburg, South Africa

That photo looks alot like her. Lets hope this is the big breakthrough that the McCanns need, and that it leads them to their daughter.

Katie Manley, Bournemouth, Dorset

Can I just ask the next tourist who has this "Oh my God, that is Maddy" experience, to talk to her or the people minding her and get this sorry story over and done with? Pleaaaaase!

robert, abbotsford,

Sorry

It look like a photo super imposed. I suspect this is the work of someone who want us to think its maddie

Who would carry a light skinned blonde girl on their back in the sun with no protection on her head

Sorry again it does not add up

JPG, Marinha, Portugal

Let's hope that all of this gets a happy ending!

Ruud M., Driebergen, The Netherlands

What are they waiting for, go and get her! May the family be reunited in this blessed month of Ramadan and those responsible for her kidnap, arrested and brought to justice, amen.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

I think this deserves to be looked at and I think that it is time that the British police organised their own search in Morocco, the British police have juristiction in this as well as Madeleine was a British Citizen. I am sure that the vast majority of Portugese police are very professional, just as the UK's are, but in this instance it appears that an officer has made his mind up that the parents did it and is discounting any evidence, and it is turning into a torrent now, that she might actually still be alive and have been trafficked to another country. This isn't anti- Portugese or anything along those lines as we have had some very badly handled cases in the past as well, but the time has come for another officer to take over the case and try to find this girl in Morrocco and see if it is Madeleine.

Mark, Cardiff, Wales

The three people with the little girl have their heads covered from the hot sun, but yet the little girl has no hat ! It seems strange they have made no attempt to protect her from the heat or disguise her if she was Madeline.

JJ Taylor, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire

Please, please let this be Maddie. But I must admit to being slightly baffled as to why you would think it's Maddie and even take the photo, but not go up and say something not threatening like "hello little girl - you're very pretty" and gauge a reaction and then make a massive scene if you think it is her. If you're wrong, so what ... but if you're right !!!

Helen Jenkins, Glasgow,

I have to agree with others. Yhay sure looks like a man to me!

Marilyn Peckover, Ilford, UK

hope and pray it is maddie in that photo. maybe the police have been slow to look cause they involved . . .

patricia murray, hillcrest, south africa

Thank god this lady had the foresight to take her photograph to the British Embassy and not the Portuguese police, it has become quite obvious they cannot be trusted with any evidence or information. Their attitude to the third Moroccan sighting is truly appalling and their equivalent of our Home Secretary should be commenting on such unbelievable behaviour. It seems to me the only thing that is dead in this case is Portugal's reputation!

kathryn, derby, UK

Curiously the person carrying the blond child looks facially odd..has it been considered that this might not be a woman under those clothes??

Yvonne , Ely, Cambs

OK, so according to Portuguese law you're allowed to spend your own money killing yourself with cigarettes but you're not allowed to spend it on finding your own child. Sweet.

Stephen, London, England

It's really creepy, seeing that the girl looks like madeline McCann..

I don't believe the parents killed her, but then again all these accusations going around seem some what ''true'' but nothing is true yet as nothing has been prooved yet.

Mark.F, The Entrance, Australia, NSW.

A mother and father would never stop looking. What is wrong with detectives in other countries. lazy? This happened in Aruba as well .

BellaMia, Cherry HIll, USA/NJ

I will pray that this will be a very happy ending.

Elinor
Montreal Quebec Canada

Elinor Warsh, Montreal, Quebec Canada

I have been aprofessional photographer and TV cameraman for 40 years.

This is her, IMHO.

99%

I'm shocked.

Mr. Lee, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Have to add this.Since when did any govt. anywhere have the right to stop parents seeking their lost child? To prosecute the Mcanns for employinf private investigators to find Maddie is a violation of their Human Rights and denies us all the right to follow our instincts of human love & responsibility. Where does the European Court of Human Rights stand on this? Perhaps your paper could investigate this? Somewhat more important than the right to sell bananas by the pound.
Leni

Leni Farrer, Glyncorrwg, Wales

Knowing that Maddy could be anywhere in the world by know. When I see a young girl that has facial expressions similar to Maddy's, I walk right up to the child and say "hi darling, how are you?" Most little girls will look directly at me, then I can tell if it is her with her distinctive eye. I also look for a contact lense that would hide her distinctive eye. While watching for Maddy, keep in mind that her hair may have been colored, the eye is really the key.

Jill, Manchester,

Can it finally be her? Portugal seems to have some very odd laws on the books-it is not familiar to me that a private detective cannot work on a criminal case, or "investigation." They generally have superior resources at their disposal, and of course the motivation that comes from having one, rather than many, cases to solve. Whatever, I believe the parents are of course correct to use every means at their disposal to find Maddie. Now I hope the headlines tomorrow confirm that she has been found and is being reunited with her parents.

Anne, Port St. Lucie, USA/Florida

I'm curious as to why the person carrying the child has her face blurred out. If you open up the photo in Photoshop, blow it up and go to greyscale, you can see where there is some unusual blurring over the face. I realize that this photo has gone through several generations of reproductions before it gets online here, but it really is odd.

alice, salado, tx/usa

Why do they keep saying that is a woman carrying that child
There is no way that is a woman! it looks like a man to me! Dressed as a woman sure, but still looks like a man!

Tricky, Sydney, Australia

I really think that is madeleine. My freind have been talking about it and we think that it is totally Madeleine. I think that the portugeuse police see the picture and I have a not for them
Please beleive that Madeleine is not dead

Becca, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The girl in the photo surely to hell looks like Maddie. I hope the Portuguese Police take this seriously but I must admit I am somewhat doubtful after what seems to be a very unprofessional and botched inquiry in to her disappearance.

Michael Wilkinson, London, England

What a nightmare - it seems that the Portuguese were keen on the theory that the McCanns did it from practically day one and stopped looking for Maddie- just because the "genius" of Gonzalo Amarcal used his keen detective saavy with the 90% theory - he should lose that beer belly or wear looser shirts and go back to police school. He said he was happy that Mrs Mccann is not his mother. I'm sure happy that he doesn't have to be in charge of any investigation on my behalf - not even for a stolen wallet.
Forgive the negative rant but I sure wish they find Maddie and from now on this awareness about missing children should persist with every single human on earth to keep aware and report to the police anything strange that occurs with children, since they are too young to defend themselves - we have to do it for them even if it may cause embarrassment if you are wrong - better to try to do the right thing than to leave an innocent soul to the whims of evil people.

Lu, Almeria, Spain