Buenos Aires

Hugo Chavez: Ten years in power as an international maverick

Hugo Chavez: Ten years in power as an international maverickBuenos Aires  - Controversial Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will celebrate ten years in power on Monday and has made it clear that he has no plans to leave anytime soon.

Chavez became president on February 2, 1999. On February 15, Venezuela is to hold a constitutional referendum, which would abolish term limits and enable Chavez to seek unlimited re-elections.

Under the present constitution, Chavez's second term ends in February 2013 without the chance of re-election.

Dakar Rally car hits spectator

Dakar Rally car hits spectatorBuenos Aires  - A spectator was seriously injur

Coma on brink of bike title in Dakar Rally

Dakar RallyBuenos Aires - Spain's Marc Coma practically sealed overall victory in the motorcycle event of the Dakar Rally after Saturday's timed section of the 14th stage.

The KTM rider stayed well in front of nearest rival Cyril Despres of France after the 227-kilometre special stage between Cordoba and Buenos Aires.

Barring any setbacks on the untimed 341-kilometre liaison ride into Buenos Aires, 32-year-old Coma will repeat his success in winning the bike rally in 2006.

X-Raid team accepts Dakar Rally is over for al-Attiyah

Dakar RallyBuenos Aires - Germany's X-Raid accepted Friday the Dakar Rally was over for its leading driver Nasser al-Attiyah following disqualification the previous evening.

The Qatari won Thursday's sixth stage to increase his overall lead in the rally, only to be disqualified for missing hidden checkpoints.

Team director Sven Quandt had acknowledged late Thursday that the decision meant exclusion from the race, but said earlier Friday he was still hoping al-Attiyah could continue with a hefty time penalty.

Al-Attiyah wins sixth Dakar Rally stage to extend lead

Al-Attiyah wins sixth Dakar Rally stage to extend lead Buenos Aires  - Qatari Nasser al-Attiyah won the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally on Thursday to increase his overall lead.

However the BMW X3 driver could face a time penalty after a review of whether he went through all the control points on a shortened 178-kilometre stage between San Rafael and Mendoza in Argentina.

Al-Attiyah of the X-Raid team posted 2 hours 7 minutes 26 seconds to finish ahead 5:07 ahead of Giniel de Villiers of South Africa in a Volkswagen Touareg.

Al-Attiyah recaptures Dakar Rally lead as De Villiers wins stage

Al-Attiyah recaptures Dakar Rally lead as De Villiers wins stageBuenos Aires  - Qatari driver Nasser al-Attiyah recaptured the lead of the Dakar Rally Wednesday, after coming in fourth in a stage marked by tragedy after French motorcycle competitor Pascal Terry was found dead.

South African Giniel de Villiers won the stage, a 506-kilometre mountainous stretch between the Argentine cities of Neuquen and San Rafael.

De Villiers, driving a Volkswagen Touareg, beat the German Dieter Depping by 2 minutes and 18 seconds in the fifth stage of the famous race.

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