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—> http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23009029-2722,00.html
Murder of tourists triggers cancellation of Dakar Rally
THIS year’s Dakar Rally has been cancelled over security concerns, the head of sport for France Televisions, Daniel Bilalian, told Europe 1 radio station last night.
The race had been due to start in Lisbon tonight (AEDT) but the murder of four French tourists in Mauritania on December 24 led to the French government advising against any travel to the country.
Nine of the rally’s stages were due to pass through Mauritania en route for Dakar in Senegal.
“If the slightest incident had happened, it would have been the credibility of the Amaury Sport Organisation (organisers) that would have been at stake,” Bilalian said.
France Televisions had been due to broadcast the rally through to its finish in Dakar on January 20.
The Amaury Sport Organisation was set to make an “urgent announcement” in Lisbon on the fate of this year’s race.
The annual car and motorcycle marathon drive to the Senegalese capital had been scheduled to get under way in the Portuguese capital tonight and scores of competitors had already arrived for technical checks.
But following the killing of the four French tourists in Mauritania on Christmas Eve, the French government advised all its nationals, including the Dakar participants, that the country was unsafe for travel.
The rally was due to pass through Mauritanian territory for nine days from January 11-19 before finishing in Dakar.
Rally organisers and competitors were initially defiant, saying they were willing to take the risk. But the pressure increased early yesterday with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner adding his voice of warning. “We are warning them. It is dangerous,” Kouchner said. “I hope that they have understood, but it’s their business.”
Apart from the deaths of the four French tourists there have been concerns that an al-Qa’ida group is active in northern Africa and could target the race.
The Mauritanian government said the shooting of the French tourists and a separate attack on a military base that left three soldiers dead were isolated incidents and that claims of an al-Qa’ida plot were unsubstantiated.
Mali has already been excluded from the race for security reasons.
The Dakar Rally has been held uninterrupted since 1979 although there have been regular calls for its cancellation over security fears and danger the fast-driving vehicles pose to locals.
Last year’s winner Stephane Peterhansel was set to chase his fourth Dakar title.
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