Dakar Rally called off following threats

This year's Dakar Rally has been canceled over security concerns, in particular direct "terrorist" threats to the race, organizers announced yesterday.

The gruelling car and motorcycle race had been due to start in Lisbon today but the murder of four French tourists in Mauritania on Dec. 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 and the scheduled finish on Jan. 20.

"Following several consultations with the French government -- in particular the ministry of foreign affairs -- and taking into account its firm recommendations, the organizers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally scheduled for January 5-20 between Lisbon and the Senegalese capital," the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) said in a statement.

The ASO said there had been "direct threats against the race issued by terrorist groups."

"ASO's prime responsibility is to ensure the security of everyone involved," the statement said adding that organizers would never take any risks with safety matters.

"The terrorist menace has wiped out a year's hard work carried out with conviction and passion by the participants and all those involved," it said.

It was the first time in its turbulent 30-year history that the controversial race has failed to go ahead and will cast doubts over future editions.

Scores of competitors in cars, motorbikes and lorries had already arrived in Lisbon for the customary technical checks ahead of today's scheduled start.

But following the killing of the four French tourists, the French government advised all its nationals that the country was unsafe for travel.

The rally was due to pass through Mauritanian territory for nine days from Jan. 11 to Jan. 19 before finishing in Dakar on Jan. 20.

Apart from the deaths of the French tourists there have been concerns that an al-Qaeda group 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-Qaeda plot had yet to be substantiated.