By Michelle Clifford, Senior News Correspondent
Madeleine McCann's parents have welcomed the launch of a new UK police investigation into their daughter's disappearance.
A Met Police review has identified 38 "persons of interest" who detectives want to speak to in relation to the suspected abduction in 2007 - almost twice as many as previously thought.
Officers say they are moving from the case review to an "investigative stage of the inquiry" and now intend to pursue more information about those individuals - 12 of whom are UK nationals
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who is heading up the inquiry, calls this "a critical moment" in the the search for Madeleine.
He said: "We have been in a unique position over the last two years in drawing together three strands - Portuguese, UK and private investigators' material.
"From that vast quantity of material analysed we have identified 38 persons of interest and 12 who are UK nationals, and it is from that position that we are able to move from review to investigation."
The Met intends to apply to issue formal requests to Portugal for evidence to be gathered and to allow a team of British officers to be present during the process.
The working relationship between UK and Portuguese police is now said to be "positive and focused" and in the absence of evidence to the contrary both countries are working on the assumption that Madeleine may still be alive.
Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry say they "warmly welcome" the new probe DCI Redwood said: "There is no clear, definitive proof that Madeleine McCann is dead.
"On that basis I genuinely believe there is a possibility she is still alive. And so I would like to ask the public to continue to look for her."
Madeleine was three when she vanished from her bedroom in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007 as her parents Kate and Gerry dined with friends nearby.
The local police investigation was called off a year later, yielding few clues into her disappearance or whereabouts.
In 2011 the Met launched its review of the case and earlier this year it was reported that around 20 "persons of interest" had been identified.
The Home Office said in June that it was prepared to fund any continuing investigation.
Met Officers have made 16 visits to Portugal and officers have met and shared their findings with key members of both the Policia Judiciaria and the judicial authorities.
A spokesman for the McCanns said: "Kate and Gerry warmly welcome the shift in the Met's emphasis from review to investigation.
"It is clearly a big step forward in establishing what happened and, hopefully, towards bringing whoever is responsible for Madeleine's abduction to justice."
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