Missing Madeleine McCann

FRIENDS of Maddie McCann’s parents refused to return to Portugal because they feared being made suspects as well.

All the "Tapas Seven" pals of Kate and Gerry were asked by Portuguese cops to take part in a reconstruction.

But at least four — Jane Tanner, Russell O’Brien and Rachael and Matthew Oldfield — blocked the move, says Portuguese paper 24 Horas.

Like the McCanns — who are suspect "arguidos" — the two couples also left their children alone last May 3 in Praia da Luz.

A source claimed: "They demanded they’d not be ‘arguidos’ but that is impossible to guarantee." They could have been accused of abandonment of a child and jailed for ten years.

Sources claimed the reconstruction was aimed at highlighting statement "inconsistencies".

The McCanns’ spokesman insisted that the couples were concerned about "the reason behind the reconstruction".