Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

WTO meet to go ahead as planned in Qatar

World Trade Organisation director general Mike Moore said on Monday that trade ministers would hold their meeting on schedule in November in Qatar despite security concerns following US-led strikes on Afghanistan.

''We are going ahead with the conference as scheduled in Doha,'' Moore told reporters in the Qatari capital.

He said the level of participation would not be affected by security concerns, adding: ''We expect 141 countries to attend.''

He said only 'one small country' would be absent from the November 9-13 meeting.

There had been strong indications that many countries wanted the gathering transferred, probably to Singapore, because of growing tensions in Muslim countries over the US-led raids.

The meeting is expected to try to launch a new round of global trade talks.

Tell us what you think of this report