Intro:

Algerian middle distance runner Taoufik Makhloufi, said that the whole of Algeria is awaiting his return to celebrate his Olympic achievement.

The 24 year old triumphed on Tuesday in the 1500m clinching the gold medal in a time of three minutes 34.08 seconds.

Makhloufi's achievement continues the tradition of North African athletes dominating the distance. The new Olympic champion says Morocco and Algeria have made the 1500m race their own since the glory days of Morocco's Said Aouita.

Makhloufi, who won his 1500m semi-final impressively on Sunday, had been forced to race in the 800m after Algeria failed to withdraw him before the deadline.

He jogged through about 200m of his heat before quitting, and was then excluded from the Games for "not providing a bona fide effort".

He was reinstated however, after providing the authorities with a Doctor's note which acted as evidence of an injury.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)

"First of all, in the name of God I am so happy to win a gold medal and not in any race but in the 1500m and in the Olympics which is not easy. It's thanks to God to achieve what I have achieved after years of hard work and now I have reaped the result. When you win a medal like this you are overwhelmed with a joy hard to express."

SUPER CAPTION: Taoufik Makhloufi, 1500m gold medalist,

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)

"With the training and the efforts I put in especially this year, I have changed the coach, I changed my training routine, I changed lots of things. For seven months I didn't go home."

SUPER CAPTION: Taoufik Makhloufi, 1500m gold medalist,

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)

"They are waiting for me impatiently, everybody is sending me congratulations. From the high ranking government officials, the president, the ministers, everybody in government. The Algerian people are happy, particularly from my home town in Souk Hras. They needed something like this."

SUPER CAPTION: Taoufik Makhloufi, 1500m gold medalist,