Trade ministers meet in Qatar

Global trade ministers are meeting in the Gulf state of Qatar for the latest World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference.

The five-day meeting in Doha brings together representatives from the 142 members of the WTO.

They hope to make progress on trade issues ranging from agriculture to the environment.

At the last meeting in Seattle in 1999 they failed to launch a new round of trade talks. It was also marred by rioting by anti-globalisation protesters.

Protesters are again expected to picket the conference to call for Western ministers to consider the plight of poorer nations in their negotiations.

Another key issue likely to be raised will be the ability of poorer nations to deal with health problems such as the Aids epidemic.