Qatar Row: Saudi-Led Bloc Vows New Measures

Local Editor

The four Arab states leading a boycott against Qatar had described Doha's rejection of their demands as a threat to regional security.

In a joint statement, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates also warned of new measures.

The four states severed ties with Qatar last month, accusing it of supporting extremists.

Qatar - who earlier this week rejected the ultimatum by the Saudi-led bloc - denies the allegations.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is expected on Monday to visit Kuwait, which is mediating the Gulf crisis.

In Thursday's statement, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE said Qatar's rejection of their 13 demands "reflects its intention to continue its policy, aimed at destabilizing security in the region".

They also threatened new political and economic measures against the tiny Gulf kingdom, without providing any further details.

The bloc's demands to Qatar include shutting down the al-Jazeera channel and scaling down ties with Iran, as well as handing over individuals wanted for terrorism and aligning itself politically and economically to the Gulf Co-operation Council [GCC].

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani described the cutting of ties with his country as "a siege that is a clear aggression and an insult".

"The answer to our disagreement is not blockades and ultimatums, it is dialogue and reason," he said earlier this week.

The small oil- and gas-rich nation is dependent on imports to meet the basic needs of its population of 2.7 million.

As its only land border is now closed, food is having to be shipped or flown in.

Al-Thani said this could be sustained "indefinitely".

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team