Dakar Rally claims another life

A spectator has been killed at the Dakar Rally in Argentina.

Officials said 28-year-old Natalia Sonia Gallardo was hit by a car driven by German Mirco Schultis, who had lost control of his vehicle around a curve.

Five other people were hurt in the incident, three of them were taken by helicopter to hospital in the nearby city of Cordoba.

Doctors said Gallardo was suffering from serious injuries and died within two hours of being admitted to hospital.

The controversial race was moved away from its traditional route in West Africa because of terrorism fears in Mauritania.

It has claimed the lives of at least 50 competitors and other people, including two children hit by vehicles in 2006.