JEDDAH, 15 October — Representatives of Muslim countries began preparatory talks in Jeddah yesterday for a crucial World Trade Organization conference next month amid reports that the location of Qatar as the venue of the meeting was in the balance because of security reasons.

Delegates from 55 member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference attending the two-day conference listened to calls for allowing developing countries to play a greater and more active role in the new world trade order envisaging unhindered movement of goods and people across the world.

Observers from the WTO, the United Nations and regional bodies, as well as international academic institutions, joined representatives from OIC countries. Topics put forward for discussion range from the stakes faced by developing countries at the Doha conference to electronic commerce and accession-related issues.

"This preparatory meeting seeks to allow member states to exchange views and coordinate their position on topics put before the Doha conference. As much as the new trade system has proved positive in several aspects, it nevertheless put a heavy burden on developing countries, especially the least developed ones," said Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Ali, president of the Islamic Development Bank, which is hosting the meetings. The bank prepared two studies on electronic commerce and intellectual property rights for discussion.

Reports from Singapore, where a WTO ministerial meeting called to settle the agenda ahead of Doha conference ended yesterday, suggest the choice of Doha was in the balance because of security concerns raised by the recent attacks in the United States and military operations against Afghanistan. The ministers were said to be considering alternative venues, including Singapore and Geneva. The Doha Conference, where more than 140 WTO members are expected, is to launch a new round of negotiations to lower barriers to global commerce. It comes in the wake of the third WTO conference in Seattle, which ended at an inconclusive note.

OIC countries have expressed concern that the benefits of the multilateral trading system have not been even or equitable.