An SU(2) x SU(2) chiral quark model describing the properties and interacti
on of pions and scalar and vector mesons is considered. The confinement of
quarks is introduced in the model by means of an infrared cut-off in the on
e-loop quark diagrams. This cutoff gives rise to the elimination of the unp
hysical thresholds of the quark-antiquark pair production. The pi-alpha(1)
transitions are taken into account. The model conserves all low-energy theo
rems. The masses of mesons and the widths of the decays rho --> 2 pi and si
gma --> 2 pi are calculated. (C) 2000 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".