Bahrain will host a Formula One race from 2004, the Middle Eastern kingdom announced at the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday.

A statement said that Bahrain "has signed a long-term agreement with (Formula One supremo) Bernie Ecclestone to host a round of the FIA Formula One world championship, starting from 2004."

The agreement was announced at Monza by Bahrain's Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamed Al Khalifa, and further details are expected in the next few days.

A circuit will have to be built from scratch before Bahrain can host a race.

It has been one of several countries vying for a place on the F1 calendar - with Russia, China, Dubai and Beirut in the Lebanon also mentioned.

The chances of a race in Moscow, announced at a news conference attended by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone last year, appear to have died.

The Moscow City government is reported to have announced that the island on which the track was to have been built will be restricted to residential development.