Gulf diplomatic crisis: Saudi Arabia, its allies accuse Qatar of destabilising security in region

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia and its allies on Friday criticised Qatar’s refusal to accept conditions to end the Gulf’s biggest diplomatic crisis in years as a threat to regional security. [caption id=“attachment_3776771” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Qatar’s foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. Reuters[/caption] Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain said Qatar’s rejection of a list of demands they set to lift sanctions on Doha “reflects its intention to continue its policy, aimed at destabilising security in the region,” according to a statement by the official SPA news agency. “All political, economic and legal measures will be taken in the manner and at the time deemed appropriate to preserve the four countries’ rights, security and stability,” the statement added, without elaborating on the potential measures. The four states last month announced the severing of all diplomatic ties with Qatar over allegations the emirate bankrolled Islamist extremists and had close ties with Saudi’s arch-rival Iran. On 22 June, they issued a 13-point list of demands, including the shutdown of broadcast giant Al-Jazeera, as a prerequisite to lift the sanctions, which include the closure of Qatar’s only land border and suspension of all flights to and from the country. The Saudi foreign ministry on Wednesday said they had received Qatar’s response to their demands - which include Doha ending support for the Muslim Brotherhood and closing broadcaster Al-Jazeera. Credit ratings agency Moody’s has announced it was changing the emirate’s outlook to negative from stable over the crisis.