Qatar delivers response to demands from Saudi-led bloc

International Desk: Qatar's foreign minister has delivered an official response to a list of demands from the Saudi-led bloc ahead of a Wednesday deadline.

It's the latest development in the rift between Qatar and four Arab states. Envoys worked steadily this weekend to tackle the crisis, a surprising rupture that began last month and spawned diplomatic tensions throughout the region.

In Kuwait, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani delivered the letter from the ruler of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, to the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who has been the main mediator during this crisis. The letter's contents are not yet known.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt agreed late Sunday to a request from the Emir to extend by 48 hours the deadline for meeting their demands.

The four countries abruptly suspended diplomatic relations and cut off land, sea and air travel to Qatar on June 5, accusing it of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the Gulf region. Qatar has rejected the accusations, calling them "unjustified" and "baseless."

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a new deadline to agree to the demands had been issued and would expire early Wednesday. Foreign ministers from the Saudi-led bloc are scheduled to meet the same day in Cairo.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir called the coalition's list of demands "non-negotiable" last week. But over the weekend, Qatar's foreign minister said the list had stipulations that couldn't be met and was "made to be rejected."

Source: Agencies



Risingbd/July 4, 2017/Mukul