Today - the 50th day since Madeleine's disappearance - Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley in Leicestershire, said they were still waiting for the "vital breakthrough" in the search for their daughter. They released 50 green and yellow balloons, each with a photograph of missing four-year-old tied to it, from the beach in Praia da Luz. The scene was repeated at nearly 300 locations across the UK and around the world as supporters launched thousands of balloons to highlight the sombre anniversary. The McCann family spokeswoman said they were "totally overwhelmed" by the "spontaneous" balloon release events organised by well-wishers. As well as in the UK and Portugal, balloons were also released today in Argentina, the United States, Singapore, Australia and Afghanistan. Two more witnesses have come forward to report seeing Madeleine McCann in Malta - but police on the Mediterranean island said their investigations had so far come to nothing. Maltese authorities revealed they had now received details of 11 separate sightings of the missing four-year-old, dating back as far as May 27. The reports differ on where the young girl was seen and who was with her, with some witnesses saying she was with a man and others with a woman. One Maltese man used his mobile phone to take a picture of a child he believed to be Madeleine at a parish feast in the central town of Zejtun on June 17. Police analysed the photograph but it proved not to be the abducted British girl. Madeleine was allegedly seen in Valletta and the towns of Sliema, Mdina and Marsascala in the previous weeks, according to the witnesses. Today police received two further reports of sightings, one yesterday in the village of Bahar-ic-Caghaq and another in Marsascala about a fortnight ago. (Daily Mail)
