Threat dropped against race across Sahara

The separatist Polisario Front says it has withdrawn its threat to disrupt the Paris to Dakar motor rally through the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

A spokesman in Berlin told the BBC that the group, which opposes Moroccan control of Western Sahara, had bowed to international pressure to drop the threat.

Polisario had said it would break-off the ceasefire with Morocco over the routing of the rally.

Earlier, the competitors crossed through the area despite the threat. They're staying overnight at a desert camp at Smara before heading across the border into Mauritania and on to the finish at Dakar.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service