SPAIN: A man and a woman were being questioned by police today on suspicion of trying to extort money from the parents of missing Madeleine McCann.

But hopes are fading of a breakthrough in the hunt for the four-year-old after it was reported the man, an Italian, had no connection with Madeleine's disappearance.

Spanish police said the man and Portuguese woman were suspected of trying to swindle the McCanns, offering them information about their daughter "to collect a reward".

The pair were detained in Sotogrande, near Algeciras.

Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa, of the Portuguese Policia Judiciara, said his officers accompanied the Spanish authorities on the arrest because of the potential link to Madeleine. He said: "We are waiting to see what develops."

The Italian was arrested on an international warrant issued from France, where he was wanted for alleged association with a crime group.

He had served an 18-month sentence in France for mistreating his daughter, but Spanish police said the warrant had nothing to do with the McCann case.

The Portuguese woman was detained due to her association with the man, and there was no warrant for her arrest.

It is 57 days since Madeleine was snatched from the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz.

Her parents Kate and Gerry have stayed in Portugal since she disappeared, insisting they will not leave until she is found. But they have withdrawn from the media spotlight recently as the search goes on.

Portuguese police have confirmed a Spanish "investigator" was interviewed for two hours on Wednesday about Madeleine's disappearance.

Antonio Tocscano had previously told the media he believed a man involved in a Europe-wide paedophile ring, known as The Frenchman, was linked to the disappearance.

He said and the man was overheard saying he was travelling to the Algarve before Madeleine went missing.