Hi Mike,
The rewrite rule you posted couldn't be responsible for blocking the google sitemap script so I'm afraid something else is responsible for the 404.
Are you sure you don't have other rewrite rules on the site? In another .htaccess file or a VirtualHost directive?
If you're not sure what I mean by that, please ask your host/web developer to check out your site!
All the best...
Conor
Ceon
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