"I can assure that we will not close the airport and that the air space will stay open," Qatar's civil aviation director, Abdelaziz Neimi, told a press conference.

Qatar Airways head Akbar al-Baker said the airline had for some time been coordinating the use of air corridors over Qatar with the US military operating here.

In addition to its command and control headquarters at As-Saliyah base, 15 kilometers (10 miles) outside Doha, the United States has access to Al-Udaid air base, southwest of the capital.

But US military transport planes have also been clearly visible in operation at Doha International Airport, where according to Al-Baker, US forces have established a transportation and logistics center.

US spokesmen have repeatedly refused to comment on military activities at the civilian airport.

Al-Baker also stressed that Qatar Airways had not eliminated any flights in response to tension in the Gulf and had no intention of doing so.

WAR.WIRE