DOUZ, TUNISIA:  Date palms are silhouetted at the El-Fawar oasis near the southern Tunisian town of Douz 25 December 2006 as the 39th International Sahara Festival opens. The festival, held 600 kms (370 miles) south of Tunis, draws locals and tourists for a cultural event that celebrates the region&#039;s heritage and desert people. AFP PHOTO FETHI BELAID  (Photo credit should read FETHI BELAID/AFP/Getty Images)