BRITAIN:Kate and Gerry McCann were said to be "extremely encouraged" yesterday by reports that Portuguese police had infiltrated a paedophile ring.
Clarence Mitchell, the family's spokesman, confirmed that 150 computers had been seized in raids on the homes of 80 suspected paedophiles across Portugal.
He said: "we are naturally extremely encouraged by this kind of police activity.
"This was an operation undertaken by officers not on the Madeleine case, but we hope that there will be liaison between the two inquiries.
"If the police are looking at images on 150 computers there might be some information developed from that.
"We would be especially interested to hear whether any of the raids took place in or around Praia da Luz."
Speaking about the new head of the investigation into the four-year-old's disappearance, Mr Mitchell said: "we welcome whoever is in charge and we would hope that he will work to eliminate any possible abductors and then refocus his efforts on finding Madeleine." Until 2004, possession of child pornography was an offence in Portugal only if the material was to be sold on.
Meanwhile, a Portuguese newspaper has claimed that DNA tests have shown that Madeleine has a different biological father from her young siblings, twins Seán and Amelie.
It is understood the McCanns underwent IVF treatment prior to the children's births.
The same newspaper, 24 Horas, reported yesterday that preliminary results of work carried out at the UK-based Forensic Science Service (FSS) on behalf of detectives showed that all three children had been sedated on the day Madeleine went missing.
The FSS, in Birmingham, reiterated its policy yesterday that it does not comment on its work for the inquiry.
Paulo Rebelo, a senior criminal investigation co-ordinator at national police headquarters in Lisbon, was appointed new lead officer in the investigation earlier this week.
Madeleine went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3rd.