Yellow ribbons symbolizing the hope for a safe return of abducted toddler Madeleine McCann will be removed from a central rallying point in her home town of Rothley in central England, relatives said Friday, according to dpa. Madeleine, who was taken form her bed in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz on May 3, has not been found despite police searches across Europe and northern Africa and an unprecedented publicity campaign by her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann. Residents of Rothley, in Leicestershire, had tied yellow strips to the Cross Green war memorial in the town, which became the focus for vigils praying for her safe return. Brian Kennedy, Madeleine's great-uncle, said the removal of the ribbons did not mean people had given up hope of finding the four- year-old. "It's not because in any way we feel that we're giving up hope or the search is any less than it was. It's as big as ever - in fact it's more widespread than anything but they've been on the green for a long time and the green doesn't just belong to us, it belongs to everyone."
