The Argentinian government has welcomed the news that the country will again host the Dakar Rally in 2010.

Dakar organisers the Amaury Sport Organisation confirmed yesterday Argentina and Chile will host the event next year - as they did last month, after it was moved from Senegal in West Africa for security reasons.

Both countries will use the Dakar as part of the celebrations for their bicentennials.

Argentina's secretary of tourism, Enrique Meyer, is confident the event will raise the profile of the South American country.

"We are sure that the Dakar was the most important promoting action in the history of the country and we'll repeat it in 2010," said Meyer.

The head of the cabinet, Sergio Massa, added: "The approval of the organisers to host the 2010 Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile was guaranteed since the approval of the conditions we were handed late in December.

"The organisers expressed their total agreement and interest to repeat the experience."

This year's event took place from January 3 to 17, with South African driver Giniel De Villiers and Spaniard Marc Coma winning the car and motorbike classes, respectively.