The father of the two French children recently abandoned in Portugal by their 41-year-old mother and her 55-year-old partner has broken his silence and revealed that he is awaiting official authorisation to be reunited with the young boys.
Euro News is reporting that the father, who lives in France, has thought about his two boys "every second" since learning of their disappearance.
A court in Setubal has ruled that the mother and her partner will remain in custody, after allegedly abandoning her boys, aged four and five, on a roadside.
The boys were found in the evening crying beside a road near Alcacer do Sal, about 100km (60 miles) south of Lisbon. The woman and her partner, identified by authorities as Marine R and Marc B, were later arrested in Fatima.
As they were led into court the mothers partner shouted "I love you" in French and the boys' mother sang.
French and Portuguese media report that the judge ordered they be placed in pre-trial detention. They are both accused of child endangerment and abandonment, while the man faces an additional charge of aggravated assault.
Meanwhile, Euronews has reported that the children have been with a French foster family in Lisbon, before they return to France.
Authorities told the Setubal courthouse that the two boys had been living with their 41-year-old mother in the eastern French city of Colmar, while their father had limited and supervised visitation rights, local media report.
Written by Len Port - photo by France 24
