WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush will meet Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani on Oct. 4 for talks that will include promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, the White House said Monday.

     The White House said in a statement that Bush's meeting with the leader of Qatar, who has condemned last week's attacks on New York and Washington and pledged solidarity with the United States, would take place in Washington.

     ``The president looks forward to discussing bilateral and regional issues ... including efforts to deepen our bilateral cooperation to promote peace and stability in the Middle East,'' the statement said.

     Earlier, Qatar's official QNA news agency reported that Hamad would begin a three-day visit to the United States on Oct. 2, saying he would meet Bush but giving no details.

     Qatar is scheduled to be the host for a Nov. 9-13 World Trade Organization meeting, although some trade diplomats believe it may be postponed, particularly if the United States launches retaliatory strikes for Tuesday's attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon.
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