The Gulf state of Qatar has confirmedits interest in taking a stake of upto 10 percent in European aerospacegroup EADS, which is suffering fromdelivery problems for the A380, Reutersreported.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamadbin Jasim al-Thani said in Londonlast month that the idea of acquiring a10 percent stake was "still in the veryearly stages".

"First of all we need to see the rightconditions at the right price," said theminister, who is also head of state controlledQatar Investment Authority.

He said he wanted to know moreabout EADS’ plans before making apurchase. He did not give details.An EADS spokesman said talks withinvestors and potential investors wereconfidential.

The QIA already has an indirectstake in EADS through a shareholding in French media groupLagardere, which was one of EADSfounding shareholders with a stakeof 15 percent that it is reducing to7.5 percent.