McCanns encouraged by investigation

ROTHLEY, England, April 26 (UPI) -- Kate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter Madeleine disappeared in 2007 while the family vacationed in Portugal, say they are encouraged by new developments.

Police released an enhanced image Wednesday of the little girl from Rothley, England, which accounts for her age since she disappeared from the family's holiday apartment shortly before her fourth birthday.

"We need to remind people around the world that this is probably what Madeleine looks like today, not the very famous picture of her when she went missing. This is Madeleine as a young girl now," said Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns.

"Kate and Gerry welcome this and they are hugely encouraged by what the police have been doing all of this last year since the launch of the investigative review."

In the meantime, Mitchell told the BBC the McCanns are "coping as best they can."

Scotland Yard has launched an investigative review in the last year, and has found 195 potential leads. Detectives in Portugal said they are willing to reopen Madeleine's case, which they closed in 2008, pending judicial approval.

Scotland Yard Detective Andy Redwood said British investigators consider her disappearance an abduction but did not reveal why authorities believe she could still be alive.