Paris-Dakar motor rally attacked in Sahara

There has been a series of attacks in the Sahara desert against competitors in the annual motor rally from Paris to the capital of Senegal, Dakar.

The organisers in Paris said five cars and two trucks were attacked on Friday night near the end of the ninth stage, at Taoudenni in Mali.

All the competitors were either rescued or reached the end of the stage safely.

But one truck was badly damaged and another stolen.

Crew members said there were about eight attackers; their identity is not known.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service