The upcoming Tour of Qatar cycling race will not be threatened by a potential conflict in the Middle East, race organizer Jean-Marie Leblanc said Wednesday.

Leblanc said that the race, held in the little Middle East country that juts out into the Persian Gulf east of Saudi Arabia, holds no hidden dangers for any of the sports top names.

Leblanc, who visited Qatar recently to examine the situation, said that he feels comfortable holding the race, despite the growing threat of conflict in the region.

"The message from Qatar is clear: 'above all tell everyone in Europe that there's no risk of war spilling over into our country. The Tour of Qatar will go ahead,'" he told AFP Wednesday.

There have been fears the race could fall victim to an impending war in Iraq, which lies far to the northwest.

Qatar, nevertheless, hosts two American military bases on its soil and in December agreed to install a mobile command center, which would act as the nerve, center for any eventual land or air attack against Iraq.

But Leblanc, the head of ASO (Aumary Sports Organization) which also runs the Tour de France, believes the race will escape any conflict because of the race dates of January 31-February 4.

"We're following the evolution of the situation very closely and we know that on January 27 the United Nations inspectors will submit their report," Leblanc told AFP. "But, except if we're all taken by surprise, we believe nothing will happen in the next few days."

The Tour of Qatar was introduced as an early season filler only last year. Fifteen European teams, composed of eight riders, will dispute the five daily stages, which finishes in the capital of Doha.Copyright AFP2003