The airlift from Niamey in Niger was organised after the French Government told race organisers that extremists planned to target the next stage of the rally, which runs just south of the Algerian border.

Three giant Antonov transport planes are carrying out 18 round trips, flying vehicles, drivers and support staff about 1,500km across the Sahara desert.

More than 1,000 drivers and support team members and their 500 vehicles will be ferried to Sabha, in southern Libya, where the race is to resume early next week.

Race organisers, the Thierry Sabine Organisation (TSO), made the decision after the French Government said there was "a serious risk of an external terrorist attack" on the race during the its five-day passage through Niger.

The US State Department also warned of a security threat somewhere along the route.

French security sources reportedly said airborne reconnaissance units had uncovered the planned attack, which came from outside Niger.

The chief rally organiser, Hubert Auriol, said the threat came from Islamist rebels originating from Algeria.

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The Niger Government reacted unhappily to the TSO decision, saying all necessary precautions had been taken.

Tourism minister Rhissa Ag Boula said that security forces in Niger had been employed for some time along the route "to avert any act of sabotage".

"Everything has been done to ensure the competitors' security throughout Niger," he said.

Desert rally

The four cancelled legs would have involved racing across about 3,000km (2,000 miles) of desert terrain.

The race, which involves cars, trucks and motorcycles, was originally between Paris and Dakar, but has taken different routes in recent years.

This year's event, which covers almost 11,000km (6,900 miles) in 17 stages, is confined to North Africa.

It was scheduled to run through Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Libya before ending in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on 23 January.

The rally has taken a regular toll of spectators, participants and reporters over its 22 years - at least 38 have died.

Last year, an armed gang in Mauritania robbed 52 competitors. As they drove away with eight vehicles, money and other valuables, the gang's leader waved, shouting: "See you next year!"

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