Dakar Cancelled.

[MadKaw]

Dakar Rally cancelled over security fears
Posted Fri Jan 4, 2008 11:05pm AEDT

The Dakar Rally has been cancelled for the first time in its 30-year history due to security concerns in Mauritania where four French tourists were killed last month, organisers said.

France-based Amaury Sport Organisation, in charge of the 6,000-kilometre rally, said in a statement they had been advised by the French Government to cancel the race which was due to begin on Saturday from Lisbon.

They said direct threats had also been made against the event by "terrorist organisations".

There had been repeated calls for the race, originally known as Paris-Dakar, to be cancelled over security fears and the danger the fast-riding cars, motorbikes and trucks across the deserts of north Africa pose to local populations.

"The organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally scheduled from the 5-20 of January between Lisbon and Senegal's capital," Amaury Sport said, adding it planned carry out the race in 2009.

"Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists ... but also mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organisations, no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken."

France warned the Dakar organisers on Thursday against holding stages in Mauritania because it said "the terrorist risk" cannot be ruled out.

Three attackers, who authorities suspect were linked to Al Qaeda, gunned down four French tourists and injured a fifth as they enjoyed a Christmas Eve picnic by the roadside in the south of the country, near the border with Senegal.

Gunmen killed three soldiers three days later in the remote and sparsely populated north of the country, bordering Algeria and Morocco's breakaway territory of Western Sahara.

Sources close to French intelligence services said there had been a specific threat from Al Qaeda against the rally.

In a statement published on several Islamist websites on December 29, Al Qaeda's north African wing denounced the race as "neo-colonialist" and accused the Mauritanian Government of collaborating with "crusaders, apostates, infidels".

France Sports Minister, Bernard Laporte, said the rally's cancellation would have "disastrous economic consequences" for country's where the rally passed through but added that security issues would have to come first.

"After a point you can't just talk about economics and you have to talk first about security," he told reporters during a visit to Guadeloupe.

A spokesman for Mauritania's President, Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, said in a statement he regretted the decision and that "despite the isolated cases of killings, Mauritania remained a safe, welcoming, hospitable and open country

[hoffy]

Gee those Muslim 'Al quada' guys need to take a chill pill..

"hey guys, you dont need to kill everyone and ruin everything FFS"

[kaneg]

that sux big time, wonder if it's ever be back again ?

[dave#3]

Man, that sucks arse. Whilst I personally would never compete in the Dakar, I have nothing but respect for the men and women who risk life and limb, and spend every cent they have on doing this race. I'd be very surprised if the Dakar ever runs again after this years cancellation, and that's a real shame.

So here's a big fuck-you to the terrorists

[stuartzx6]

from what i have seen it is only canceled this year

that sux big time, wonder if it's ever be back again ?

[up2nogood]

Blow up the terrorists!

[mfzx6r]

[the kid]

You applying for the job Marz ?