Police charge girl abduction suspect

By Avril Ormsby and Andrew Hough

LONDON (Reuters) - Police were granted more time on Monday to question a man suspected of abducting schoolgirl Shannon Matthews.

The 39-year-old man, whom they have not named, was arrested on Friday after the nine-year-old was found at a house just a mile from her home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

Her accused abductor went before magistrates on Monday who granted a warrant for 24 hours' further detention. Under a previous warrant, police had until lunchtime on Monday to either charge or release him.

"(The man) will continue to be interviewed by police officers today," a spokeswoman said in a statement on Monday.

Newspapers have named him as Michael Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, an uncle of Matthews' stepfather Craig Meehan.

Also on Monday, police continued the delicate task of talking to Matthews to find out what happened to her between her disappearance from the gates of her school in Dewsbury and her dramatic rescue 24 days later.

She is currently the subject of an emergency police protection order.

Her mother Karen said the family was planning a party on her daughter's return home, but added she understood it may be a while before that happens.