Last updated at 10:09 AM on 07th April 2008
Enlarge 
Portuguese detectives arrive in Britain today ahead of fresh police interviews of Kate and Gerry McCann's friends. 
Madeleine: Missing since May last year
The so-called Tapas Seven who dined with the couple on the night their daughter Madeleine disappeared are among a list of 24 people due to be grilled by detectives over the next four days.
But the McCanns themselves will not face new interrogations and are due to leave Britain during the Portuguese police visit.
Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell insisted the couple were on a pre-arranged visit to Brussels to lobby Euro MPs for a better alert system for missing children, and denied the trip was a "smokescreen".
He said they welcomed the latest police move and would be willing to be interviewed again if it would help the investigation.
But prosecutors in Portugal were reported to have ruled there was no need for the couple to face fresh interrogations, fuelling speculation they could soon be cleared of being named suspects, or arguidos, in their daughter's disappearance.
Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell insisted the couple were on a pre-arranged visit to Brussels to lobby Euro MPs for a better alert system for missing children, and denied the trip was a "smokescreen"
He said they welcomed the latest police move and would be willing to be interviewed again if it would help the investigation.
Enlarge
Kate and Gerry McCann: Will not be quizzed again by Portuguese police
But prosecutors in Portugal were reported to have ruled there was no need for the couple to face fresh interrogations, fuelling speculation they could soon be cleared of being named suspects, or arguidos, in their daughter's disappearance.
Interviews of the Tapas Seven are due to start on Tuesday and the friends will be asked a series of questions drawn up by the Portuguese police team.
The Algarve-based team is barred from conducting interrogations on British soil, but will monitor the questioning of the couple's friends by Leicestershire police.
They will all be interviewed as witnesses and are free to leave at any time, a spokeswoman for Leicestershire Constabulary said. No lawyers will be present.
Portuguese police had requested the interviews and were also said to have asked for the McCanns' computers, Mrs McCann's diary and Madeleine's favourite Cuddle Cat toy to be seized, but it is understood that no property will be searched or seized.
The three-strong team from Portugal is expected to return to the Algarve on Friday but Leicestershire officers will continue to interview other witnesses, including the couple's spokesman Mr Mitchell.
Under Portuguese law named suspects, or arguidos, have the right to ask that police speak to witnesses who support them.
The McCanns have asked for up to 24 of their friends and family to be questioned about their relationship with Madeleine and their behaviour after her disappearance.
They will leave for Brussels on Wednesday to present a draft declaration to the European Parliament, and on Thursday they will give their first press conference since they were made official suspects in the investigation.
As arguidos they are forbidden from speaking about the events of May 3 or the police inquiry but can talk about wider issues about missing children.
Mr Mitchell said it was "pure coincidence" that the McCanns were leaving Britain during the week of the police interviews.
He said: "To say this is a smokescreen is utter rubbish. It is pure co-incidence that police interviews are being conducted at the same time the European Parliament is sitting, and Kate and Gerry are tabling a motion."
Mr McCann, 39, and his 40-year-old wife are also due to talk about their campaign in a TV documentary to be screened on April 30, just days before the first anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance.
The couple will not return to Portugal for the anniversary unless their arguido status is lifted, but some of their relatives are expected to go to Praia da Luz for the poignant milestone.
Meanwhile they hope the police interviews could be the next step towards clearing their names over alleged contradictions in their accounts of the night of May 3.
Mr Mitchell said: "No-one wants to change their testimony and no-one is concerned about the interviews.
"Kate and Gerry hope the police will realise there is no evidence to implicate them and will finally clear them of their arguido status. Their friends are keen to assist the police and wonder why it has taken so long.
"This is a voluntary process, they are not being coerced or threatened, and none of them will be made suspects."
The Tapas Seven - Jane Tanner and her partner Russell O'Brien, Fiona Payne and her husband David and mother Dianne Webster, and Matthew and Rachael Oldfield - have all said they are happy to be questioned again.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1008821/Portuguese-detectives-set-quiz-Tapas-Seven-London-Madeleine-s-disappearance.html#ixzz13pZ2wpsl
