By CYNTHIA R. FAGEN

July 23, 2007 -- The distraught parents of a missing 4-year-old British girl could face neglect charges for leaving their daughter alone in a hotel room from which police believe she was kidnapped during a family vacation in Portugal, according to a published report.

While the worldwide search for Madeleine McCann continues into its third month, authorities are probing whether to prosecute her mother and father, Gerry and Kate McCann, for child endangerment, according to the Daily Mail.

The pair had left Madeleine and her 2-year-old twin siblings in their beds at the Praia da Luz resort while they dined about 100 yards away with friends, each taking turns to go and check on the children.

Upon their return from dinner, Madeleine was nowhere to be found and the door and window were open.

Portuguese police have questioned the parents extensively and they are not suspects.

A 33-year-old British man who lives near the hotel has been questioned as the only suspect, but was released for lack of evidence.

So far police have been inundated with leads - including one that a convicted sex offender known as "the Frenchman" abducted the child.

In addition, the parents claim they are victims of an Internet smear campaign calling for them to be arrested, according to Britain's Sunday Express.

"If they could turn back time, there are things that they might have done differently, with the benefit of hindsight," said Justine McGuinness, McCann family spokeswoman.

"But it's impossible to say whether had there been an adult in the apartment at the time of the abduction, it would have stopped a predator."

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