Maddie detective off the case

The Portuguese detective in charge of the Madeleine McCann inquiry has been removed from the case.

The four-year-old went missing from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3, while her parents dined at a nearby restaurant.

Chief Inspector Goncarlo Amaral was reportedly taken off the investigation following his comments that Kate and Gerry McCann had been calling the shots by identifying lines of inquiry for Leicestershire officers.

The detective, who heads the regional Policia Judiciaria in Portimao, said British police had overlooked the fact that the couple remain suspects.

And he accused the McCanns of releasing new information each day in a bid to distract and confuse the 152-day-old inquiry.

Clarence Mitchell, the family's spokesman, said tonight: "We're aware of these reports and we simply can't comment."

He added: "Gerry and Kate have consistently said that they are happy to co-operate fully with the Portuguese authorities and will continue to do so no matter who is in charge of the Madeleine investigation."

Police reportedly said in a statement that Mr Amaral had been taken off the case - but gave no reason for the decision.

Despite his previous media silence, Mr Amaral has been a controversial figure during the search for Madeleine.

Last month it emerged he is one of five men charged over an alleged attack on the mother of another missing girl.

The men are accused of "scenes of aggression" against Leonor Cipriano, whose nine-year-old daughter, Joana, vanished in September 2004.

The detective was also forced to defend a two-hour lunch break with police spokesman Olegario Sousa at a fish restaurant in Portimao.

The men were spotted drinking what looked like white wine and whisky as the McCanns flew to Berlin to publicise the case.

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