March 03, 2007	Saturday	Safar 13, 1428

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KARACHI, March 2: India has refused to participate in the Pakistan's Tour de cycle race at the eleventh hour when the grand event is just two days away to start.

According to the Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF), India opted out of the event, scheduled to start from March 4, due to security reasons in the wake of the Samjhota Express tragedy in which at least 67 passengers were killed.

“Though India has refused to take part in the event due to security concerns, teams from New Zealand and Canada have already arrived in the country,” PCF secretary Idrees Haider Khawja told a TV channel on Friday.

Idrees said three cyclists from Canada and two from New Zealand are taking part in the event.

He added that squads from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran and Afghanistan would be reaching the city on Saturday.

Besides the international cyclists, four local organisations and as many provincial outfits will vie for the Rs1.2 million race that will start from the tomb of the Quaid-i-Azam and conclude in Peshawar.—PPI