Italy`s ANSA news agency said helicopters, mounted police and tracker dogs were searching around Cerignola in the southern region of Puglia for Alessia and Livia Schepp.
Their father, Matthias (43), committed suicide at Cerignola station on Friday. Separated from his wife Irina (44), he had snatched the twins from their home in western Switzerland on Sunday and driven them away in her stolen car.
Switzerland`s ATS news agency said some 30 police had been mobilised in that country, and two inspectors had arrived in Italy. They would be helping in the hunt and bringing the father`s body for formal identification.
ATS quoted a police spokesman as saying that two other policemen had gone to Marseille in southern France to follow up further leads.
The children`s mother, who is of Italian origin, went to French police in Marseille, from where her husband had sent her a postcard on January 31, the day after he took the children.
He had said he was desperate and could not live without her.
Swiss police said he had drawn large sums of money out of cash machines in Marseille.
An earlier appeal for witnesses said "all the police in Europe" were on the lookout for the father and the two girls, and an investigator said Saturday they feared the worst. (C003/K004)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
