MONTE CARLO, MON - In a rare move, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) suspended the Algerian Athletics Federation yesterday, barring the nation's track and field athletes from all international competitions.

IAAF executive director Pierre Weiss said the rare step followed the suspension of the federation,s president and executive committee by the country's Minister of Sport, Yahia Guidoum, in late September.

The governing body had asked Guidoum to reinstate the federation's officers, who had been suspended by the minister for four years. Instead, Guidoum installed a new president and executive committee last week.

"The IAAF council agreed that the decision of the minister to put in place an interim committee was totally unacceptable and has taken the rare step to suspend the Algerian Athletics Federation from the IAAF with immediate effect," the IAAF said in a statement. "This decision means that Algerian athletes will not be able to compete in international competitions."

The decision, a rare move, was taken during the first day of an IAAF Council meeting in Monte Carlo. In the 1970s, South Africa was banned from international competition because of its racist apartheid policies, and more recently, Afghanistan was banned during Taliban rule.

Algeria has a strong tradition in athletics, particularly in middle and long distance events.

Noria Merah-Benida is the women's African champion in the 1500m. Tarek Boukensa is ranked number five in the world in the men's 1500m.

"The IAAF will strongly support the independence of democratically elected federations against all form of government interference," said IAAF president Lamine Diack.