Pair in serious condition after Dakar accident

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - British driver Paul Green and his navigator Matthew Harrison were in a serious condition on Tuesday after being involved in an accident in the first stage of the Dakar rally, a hospital spokesman said.

Both drivers are in hospital in the provincial city of Santa Rosa after their vehicle overturned during Saturday's stage which started in Buenos Aires.

"Green is suffering from a blow to the thorax and spine, he has been detained since January 3 with artificial breathing apparatus," Juan Jose San Emerito, head of the hospital's intensive care unit, told the Telam news agency.

"We are trying to remove him from the breathing apparatus. His situation is serious but with a favourable outlook, although with this type of injury can only be judged by what happens over several days as complications can occur."

"(Harrison's condition) is serious and the situation has not changed."

The Dakar rally was cancelled last year because of fears of terrorism in Mauritania. This year it is being held in Argentina and Chile.

(Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by John Mehaffey)