Organisers have been forced to cancel the Dakar Rally for the first time in its history on Friday because of security concerns.
Rally will not go ahead on Saturday because of 'terrorist threats'
Organisers have been forced to cancel the Dakar Rally for the first time in its 30-year history on Friday because of security concerns.
The French government advised planners to abandon the 6,000km rally following the killing of four French tourists in Mauritania.
Event organisers Amaury Sport also said the race, which had been due to start on Saturday, had been the subject of terrorist threats.
"The organisers have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally scheduled from the January 5 to 20 between Lisbon and Senegal's capital," Amaury Sport said.
"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."
Mamadou Dia, a spokesman for Senegal's Sports Ministry, added: "The cancellation of the rally is not only a great loss for Senegal, but for all the countries crossed by the race."
Some 570 teams had registered for the 30th edition of the event with Mitsubishi going in search of their eighth successive win in the car category.
