<div><p>The parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann faced a former Portuguese police officer in a libel court on Tuesday over his claims that she is dead and that they were involved in her disappearance.</p><p>Goncalo Amaral, who led the initial stages of the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal in May 2007, made the allegations in his July 2008 book "Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie".</p><p>Arriving at the court in Lisbon, Kate and Gerry McCann, who are claiming 1.07 million pounds for defamation, said they were "confident" while Amaral said he hoped "justice would be done".</p><p>A Portuguese court issued an interim injunction in September banning sales of the book and prohibiting Amaral from repeating his claims in the media.</p><p>The former senior police officer initially headed the inquiry but was removed in October 2007 after he criticised British police in a newspaper interview.</p><p>The case, which is being brought by the McCanns against Amaral, was expected to last until Thursday.</p><p>Madeleine, who would now be six years old, went missing from a holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, as her parents and their friends dined at a nearby restaurant.</p><p>The McCanns were named as official suspects in their daughter's disappearance in September 2007 although this was lifted in July 2008.</p><p>Despite massive international publicity and investigations by both Portuguese and British police Madeleine has never been found.</p><p>Portuguese police are no longer investigating the case, but other investigators acting on the couple's behalf are still looking for the missing girl and appealing to the public for information.</p><p>The McCanns have also asked the Lisbon court to confirm September's interim injunction.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=66769494&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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