Qatar regrets decision by 4 Arab states to cut ties

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA (AA) – Qatar has regretted a decision by four Arab countries to cut ties with Doha, in the worst rift in years among some of the major states in the Arab world.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt on Monday severed ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.

The countries have blocked Qatar from their airspace and requested that all Qatari diplomats leave within 48 hours.

“These measures are unjustified and are based on claims and groundless allegations,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It said the measures “aim to impose guardianship on the country, which is a violation of its sovereignty, something which totally rejected”.

The ministry went on to reiterate its respect for the sovereignty of other countries.

Qatar “respects the sovereignty of other countries, does not meddle in their internal affairs and carries out its duties in combating terrorism and extremism,” the statement said.

The statement said Qatar “is facing a campaign based on fabrications, which expose intentions to harm the country”.

The new escalation came two weeks after the website of Qatar’s official news agency was allegedly hacked by unknown individuals who reportedly published statements falsely attributed to its emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani.

The incident triggered a diplomatic row between Qatar and its neighbors, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.