Qatar Emir in Surprise Saudi Visit with King Abdullah

Local Editor

The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, arrived unexpectedly in Saudi Arabia for talks on regional issues with Saudi King Abdullah on Tuesday, Al-Arabiya television said.

The Saudi-owned news channel said al-Thani was in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah "to discuss developments in the region."

The visit comes amid intensifying efforts to end 15 days of "Israeli" aggression by the Zionist army in the seized Gaza Strip.

Relations between Doha and Riyadh remain tense after sinking to a new low in March when Saudi Arabia, along with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates pulled their envoys from Qatar, accusing it of meddling in their affairs.

Egypt has proposed a ceasefire in seized Gaza followed by indirect talks.

However, Hamas has said it would not accept the Egyptian proposal, insisting instead on firm commitments first to end "Israel's" eight-year blockade of the beseiged coastal enclave.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team