Gunman shot dead at Qatar air base

DOHA, Qatar -- An Qatari man has been shot dead by security guards after opening fire at an airbase in Qatar, which this week hosts a meeting of the World Trade Organisation, the Arabic language TV network al Jazeera reported on Wednesday.

The Qatar news agency said the man was killed at the Udeid airstrip on Wednesday morning.

The airstrip, which is about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the capital Doha, is being used by U.S. military aircraft in line with a military co-operation agreement between the United States and Qatar.

World Trade Organization chief Mike Moore said the attack was not related to the WTO meeting.

"This is a very, very sad incident, but it is unrelated to the conference," Moore told Reuters.

Asked if it would affect the November 9-13 WTO conference, he replied: "I don't believe it will affect the conference."

Ministers from the WTO's 142 member states will try in Doha to agree on an agenda for a new round of global trade liberalisation talks.