On the basis of the Bethe-Salpeter Equation we developed a covariant constituent quark model, with confinement implemented by a linear potential and an instanton induced interaction explaining mass splittings and mixing of pseudoscalar mesons. In addition this interaction yields a scalar (essentially) flavour singlet state at approximately 1 GeV, considerably lower in mass than the corresponding octet states calculated around 1.4 GeV. The validity of the present approach was checked through various electroweak observables. The puzzling properties of scalar mesons is briefly discussed.

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