"Conscience-pricking" McCann video launched

Police released a video today of how Madeleine McCann might look now, in a bid to prick the conscience of anyone who knows what became of the missing girl.

Madeleine, from Leicestershire, vanished from her room at the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, just days before her fourth birthday

The 60-second video, released in seven languages including French and Arabic, features film footage of Madeline and digitally enhanced photos of what she might look like now -- with shoulder length blonde hair -- as well as one with her with a tan and dark hair.

The clip, which was produced with the aid of psychologists, can be viewed at www.ceop.police.uk.

"We're not actually looking directly at the principal criminal," said Jim Gamble, head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. "This message is aimed at prompting the conscience of an individual who is keeping a secret."

"We believe that there is someone out there who is associated and knows," he said. "(But) it would not be right to say that we're working on new intelligence."

Parents Gerry and Kate McCann, whom Portuguese police named as suspects but later cleared, waged a high-profile campaign to find their daughter, hiring a private detective and even meeting with Pope Benedict.

Earlier this year, the McCanns told US talk show host Oprah Winfrey they believed she was still alive.