Qatar faces new sanctions in escalating Arab row

Qatar is facing new sanctions from Arab countries that have cut diplomatic ties with the Gulf emirate over alleged support for terrorism, Saudi-owned television Al Arabiya reported on Sunday.  

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt have given Qatar until Sunday evening to comply with a list of demands to end the dispute, the broadcaster added.  

The four countries are “studying” a list of potential sanctions against Qatar after it rejected those demands, Al Arabiya reported, without elaborating on the possible punishments.  

The demands include downgrading ties with Iran, a regional rival of Saudi Arabia; stopping support for Islamist groups; and shutting down the Doha-based broadcaster Al Jazeera and its channels.  

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has said the demands violate his country’s sovereignty, but called for a dialogue.  

“Arab states demands made to be rejected,” Mohammed tweeted Sunday on the Qatari Foreign Ministry’s official account.  

Last month, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic ties and transportation links with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism, a charge that Doha denies.  

In 2014, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain temporarily withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar, accusing it of breaching a regional security pact.  

That row was resolved, with Kuwait, another Gulf country, acting as mediator.  

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait are members of the US-allied Gulf Cooperation Council that also comprises Oman.   
  -  Cairo (dpa), 02 July, 2017