PARIS Tough terrain and possible disruption await the 250 cars, motorcycles and trucks leaving Paris at dawn on Monday at the start of one of motorsport's greatest challenges -- the Paris-Dakar Rally.

The event returns to its roots for a 10,739km (6,700-mile) trek across Europe and North Africa that will end 21 days later in the Senegal capital.

In 2000, the rally covered six countries from Dakar to Cairo but competitors required an airlift from Niger to Libya following threats from Algerian fundamentalist groups.

There could be similar problems again this time round.

The Polisario Front Independence Movement has threatened to break a United Nations-brokered cease-fire and disrupt the event when it crosses from Morocco into the disputed Western Sahara.

The movement, backed by Algeria, said that to have the rally go through Western Sahara was "an insult to the Sahrawi people, a challenge to the United Nations, and therefore a violation of the cease-fire in effect since September 1991".

The race reaches Morocco on January 4 and crosses into Western Sahara on January 7.

Morocco claims Western Sahara and controls most of it. A UN plan calls for a referendum to decide whether it should be incorporated into Morocco or become independent.

20 stages

A total of 99 cars, 130 motorcycles and 34 trucks have signed up for the 23rd running of the event which comprises 20 stages -- three in France and Spain, four in Morocco, eight in Mauritania, two in Mali and three in Senegal.

One of the features is the high number of sand stages, with numerous dune crossings.

Leading contenders in the auto category include Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser, winner for the past two years in his Schlesser Buggy, 1998 winner Jean-Pierre Fontenay and Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt.

Richard Sainct of France, who won last year, defends his title in the motorcycling category, while South Africa's Alfie Cox will be riding a KTM as he bids to give the factory team a victory in the only race that has so far eluded it.

Experienced Englishman John Deacon and Spaniard Joan Roma will also pose threats.

Two stars from other sports will also be contesting the rally, with former skier Luc Alphand entered in the auto category and ex-cyclist Frederic Moncassin racing in the motorcycles.

(Reuter)