AS LOCALS jeered and wolf-whistled, Kate McCann yesterday left a Portuguese police station expecting to be charged with killing her daughter Madeleine.

In an extraordinary 24 hours, authorities got DNA analysis results, formally declared both Mrs McCann and her husband Gerry as suspects, then offered both deals if they confessed to accidentally killing their daughter then hiding the crime.

The case of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann, who apparently disappeared from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while her parents dined at a nearby tapas bar on May 3, has gripped the world.

Clutching her daughter's favourite Cuddly Cat toy, Mrs McCann was interviewed by detectives for 11 hours before being declared a suspect, or an "arguido", which can prevent her leaving the country and gives her the right to refuse to answer questions.

She was called back for another five-hour interrogation yesterday, involving 22 questions about the night Madeleine went missing.

One question was whether Mrs McCann, an anaesthetist, gave Madeleine a sedative to put her to sleep and allow the adults to have an undisturbed dinner. Police suggested the toddler may have accidentally broken her neck.

Gerry McCann, also a doctor, was questioned separately for nearly eight hours. When he eventually emerged, his lawyer Carlos Pinto de Abreu said that both parents were under suspicion.

"Kate and Gerry McCann have both been today declared arguidos with no bail conditions and no charges have been brought against them," the lawyer said.

Police claim the McCanns hid Madeleine's body for 25 days before using a hire car to dispose of the body.

Madeleine's DNA, including blood, was allegedly found in the boot of the car, on Mrs McCann's clothes and in the apartment. Police cadaver dogs also allegedly found a scent on Mrs McCann's clothes.

Police asked Mrs McCann why she washed Cuddly Cat after Madeleine disappeared, despite it being her favourite toy with her distinctive smell.

They questioned why she yelled "someone has taken my little girl", instantly assuming an abduction.

She reportedly swore at police when they asked her outright if she killed her child.

She was told by police to confess and she would get little more than a year's jail.

Mr McCann was offered the same deal as his wife �?admit what happened and the courts would go easy on him.

Mrs McCann later told family she was amazed and horrified by the accusations levelled against her.

Her mother, Susan Healy, said: "This is a set-up. If there is any evidence to implicate Kate and Gerry in any way, then it has been planted."

Another family member said the move by police to suspect the McCanns was ludicrous.

She said: "The police are trying to suggest Kate has accidentally killed Madeleine. How ludicrous is that when one of their friends saw Madeleine being carried up the street by some unknown assailant?"

Until yesterday, the only official suspect was Briton Robert Murat, who lived nearby. He is no longer considered relevant to the case.

Since Madeleine's disappearance, her family has led a high-profile media campaign seeking assistance.