Algerian Culture Ministry Questions Hoggar Rally

24/06/2005

[File] Auriol

Algerian Culture Minister Khalida Toumi strongly opposed the possibility that the first Hoggar Rally, to be held 14-20 October, might cross Hoggar archaeological park in southern Algeria.

Hamid Sidi-Said, president of the Algerian Federation of Motorsports, and Frenchman Hubert Auriol, general director of the Hoggar Rally, have held races in Algiers and Paris before. Auriol denied the rally will cross Hoggar Park.

"It is a protected area and we have not even discussed crossing it," Auriol said. The rally will have five stages along the Hassi Messaoud-Tamanrasset axis and be limited to approximately 50 participants in the automobile and motorbike categories. "All security conditions are provided," Auriol said. (L'Expression)