4 Arab nations cut diplomatic ties to Qatar as rift deepens

In this Friday, June 2, 2017 Saudi King
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, left,
talks to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
 Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and
Deputy Commander in Chief of the Emirates
 Armed Forces in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Four Arab nations cut diplomatic ties to Qatar on Monday over its relations with Iran and support of Islamist groups, isolating the tiny energy rich country by cutting off its land, sea and air routes to the outside world.

Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates began withdrawing their diplomatic staff from Qatar as regional airlines quickly announced they’d suspend service to its capital, Doha.

Qatar, which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and is home to some 10,000 American troops at a major U.S. military base, criticized the move as a “violation of its sovereignty.” It long has denied supporting militant groups and described the crisis as being fueled by “absolute fabrications” stemming from the recent hack of its state-run news agency.

The countries all ordered their citizens out of Qatar and gave Qataris abroad 14 days to return home to their peninsular nation. The countries also said they would eject Qatar’s diplomats from their territories.

Qatar’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said there was “no legitimate justification” for the countries’ decision, though it vowed its citizens wouldn’t be affected by it. “The Qatari Government will take all necessary measures to ensure this and to thwart attempts to influence and harm the Qatari society and economy,” it said.

SOURCE: SEATTLE TIMES