PORTIMAO, Portugal: A British man under investigation over the disappearance of a four-year-old girl in Portugal said he had been made a scapegoat in the case, which has drawn international attention.

Robert Murat has gone into hiding since he was formally named as a suspect over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and his home was searched.

Portuguese police said however that they did not have enough evidence to arrest him.

Murat told a British television channel: "This has ruined my life and made my life very difficult for my family here and in Britain."

Murat who had worked for police during the hunt for the girl and also for Sky television, would not appear on screen.

But Sky quoted him as saying: "The only way I will survive this is if they catch Madeleine's abductor ... I've been made a scapegoat for something I did not do."

Murat was made a formal suspect just after police questioned him for more than 12 hours.

An unidentified German woman and a Portuguese man were also questioned but they were released.

Portuguese police did not name Murat, identifying the formal suspect only as a 33-year-old man who had cooperated with the investigation.

Detectives "don't have enough elements which could lead to his arrest", inspector Olegario de Sousa told a news conference.

Murat lives with his mother close to the holiday complex where Madeleine disappeared on May 3.

The parents were eating in a nearby restaurant while the girl slept with her twin siblings.

Madeleine has since become an international cause celebre with businessmen and individuals offering cash totalling more than 2.5 million pounds (four million euros) for her safe return.

Soccer star David Beckham and other personalities have appealed for her release.

Under Portuguese law, a person can be placed under investigation without formal charges being brought.

Lusa news agency said Murat had returned to his home late Tuesday and he must seek authorisation if he wants to go away for more than five days.

A police statement said "various materials" had been taken from his address after the search, and that four other dwellings had been searched.

Answering questions, De Sousa said he could not say whether Madeleine was alive.

Investigators are pursuing the theory of an abduction, but have not said specifically for what reasons the man is under investigation.

Murat had worked for the police in the inquiry as a translator, and taken a keen interest in the case, according to journalists covering the event.

Investigators on Monday searched Murat's home some 100 metres (yards) from the Ocean Club complex where the little girl went missing on May 3 while her parents ate in a nearby restaurant.

They left carrying boxes and plastic bags, which Portuguese media said may contain video cassettes and computer equipment.

Murat is divorced from a British wife, worked for a real estate agency.

Media reports said he has a four-year-old daughter living with his ex-wife in England.

Police decided to search Murat's house after a tip-off from a British journalist who found his behaviour suspicious.

"Basically he surfaced on Friday afternoon last week and was walking around as if he was somebody official. He claimed that he was just a local guy who spoke fluent Portuguese and English and was helping the family," said Lori Campbell of the Sunday Mirror. - AFP/yy