Rowling helps in hunt for Madeleine McCann

LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) Posters of missing British girl Madeleine McCann will be put up in book stores around the world over the next few days to coincide with the publication of the seventh and final Harry Potter novel.

Author J K Rowling, ''profoundly moved'' by the plight of Madeleine and her family, asked for the poster to be displayed at a time when thousands of Potter fans and their parents are expected to crowd into book shops to snap up copies.

The poster will feature an image of Madeleine and a link to the international missing children's organisation www.icmec.org.

Rowling and her publishers decided not to insert bookmarks with Madeleine's image into the books after parents urged them not to interfere with their children's reading experience and because of the title: ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows''.

Madeleine, now four, went missing from her bedroom on May 3 as her parents were dining at a resort in southern Portugal.

Despite an international search and high-profile publicity campaign by her parents, there has been no sign of her since.

''I fervently hope that posters displayed prominently in shops all over the world when the new book comes out will help find Madeleine McCann and will help raise the profile of the many other missing children in different countries,'' Rowling said in a statement.

''Deathly Hallows'' is one of the most eagerly awaited books in publishing history, and goes on sale at one minute past midnight on Saturday, July 21. The first six books in the series have sold 325 million copies worldwide.

REUTERS SKB HS1433