Rugged Racing Women in Morocco This year, the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles celebrates its 20th anniversary and its successful and unique history. The rally is the only all-women's off-road rally in the world and strictly forbids competitors from using GPS, support teams, cell phones, and even modern maps. Keen navigation skills combined with strategic off-road driving are essential for the success of the participating Gazelles. UN envoy for Western Sahara meets Algerian leader The UN envoy for the Western Sahara had talks Tuesday with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, during a regional tour aimed at resolving a lingering territorial dispute, the APS news agency said. Envoy Christopher Ross arrived Monday in Algiers on the latest leg of a tour that began WEdnesday in Morocco, which lays claim to the disputed Western Sahara. He is seeking to end what he described as the “impasse” over the desert territory. On Sunday, he visited the Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf in southwest Algeria, across the border from the Western Sahara, which was occupied by Morocco after Spanish settlers withdrew in 1975. China hopes to expand cooperation with Tunisia: official China hopes to expand exchange and cooperation with Tunisia in all aspects and at all levels, in order to strengthen bilateral ties and achieve common development, said a visiting senior Chinese official Monday in Tunis. Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress ( NPC), China's parliament, made the remarks when meeting with Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi. Lebanon gets another Arab summit invite The Libyan government extended a second invitation to Beirut to attend the summit for the Arab League scheduled for next weekend in Tripoli. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi sent Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Amran Abu Kara'a to Cairo to send another invitation to Lebanese officials to attend the Arab League summit, London's pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat reports Tuesday. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa told the news agency that he met with Lebanese leaders as they received the second invitation. Sudan Elections Will Go Ahead Despite State Violence Sudan’s Electoral Commission says it will not postpone its first multiparty election since 1986, despite assessments that the country is not ready for the April 11 vote. Human Rights Watch Africa Director Georgette Gagnon said in a statement that state-sponsored human rights violations are such that “conditions in Sudan are not yet conducive for a free, fair, and credible election.” BM
