Middle East crisis

Qatar says it won’t ‘surrender’

Qatar yesterday said it will not "surrender" and rejected any interference in its foreign policy, defying its Gulf neighbours in an escalating dispute over its alleged support for extremists, reports AFP.
In an interview with AFP, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said calls for a change in Qatari policy from Saudi Arabia and its allies, which cut diplomatic ties with Doha this week, were unacceptable.
"No one has the right to intervene in our foreign policy," Sheikh Mohammed said.
He also rejected "a military solution as an option" to resolving the crisis, and said Qatarcould survive "forever" despite the measures taken against it.
"We are not ready to surrender, and will never be ready to surrender the independence of our foreign policy," he told reporters later, adding: "No one will break us."
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain lead a string of countries that this week cut ties with Qatar over what they say is the emirate's financing of extremist groups and its ties to Iran, Saudi Arabia's regional arch-rival.
Qatar strongly denies the allegations and has expressed a willingness to engage in talks to resolve the crisis.
The gas-rich emirate's satellite news giant Al-Jazeera has also emerged as a point of contention, and on Thursday the broadcaster said it was battling a major cyber attack.
Al-Jazeera tweeted that it was "under cyber attack on all systems, websites & social media platforms", and a source said it was trying to repel the hack.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have banned Al-Jazeera from the airwaves and closed the channel's offices.
The Arab countries closed air, sea and land links with Qatar, barred the emirate's planes from their airspace and ordered Qatari citizens out within 14 days.
The feud has raised fears of wider instability in an already volatile region that is a crucial global energy supplier and home to several Western military bases.
Kuwait -- which unlike most of its fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members has not cut off ties with Qatar -- has been leading efforts to mediate.
Its emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held talks on Wednesday with Qatari counterpart Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, following talks with senior UAE officials and Saudi King Salman.
US President Donald Trump, who had initially backed the measures against Qatar in a tweet, called Sheik Tamim on Wednesday with an offer "to help the parties resolve their differences".
Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US airbase in the Middle East. Home to some 10,000 troops, it is central to the US-led fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also reached out to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran in a bid to kick off negotiations.
Turkey, which works closely with Qatar in the energy sector, has walked a fine line between defending Qatar and abstaining from openly antagonising Saudi Arabia.

Middle East crisis

Qatar says it wont surrender

Qatar yesterday said it will not surrender and rejected any interference in its foreign policy, defying its Gulf neighbours in an escalating dispute over its alleged support for extremists, reports AFP. In an interview with AFP, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said calls for a change in Qatari policy from Saudi Arabia and its allies, which cut diplomatic ties with Doha this week, were unacceptable. No one has the right to intervene in our foreign policy, Sheikh Mohammed said. He also rejected a military solution as an option to resolving the crisis, and said Qatarcould survive forever despite the measures taken against it. We are not ready to surrender, and will never be ready to surrender the independence of our foreign policy, he told reporters later, adding: No one will break us. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain lead a string of countries that this week cut ties with Qatar over what they say is the emirates financing of extremist groups and its ties to Iran, Saudi Arabias regional arch-rival. Qatar strongly denies the allegations and has expressed a willingness to engage in talks to resolve the crisis. The gas-rich emirates satellite news giant Al-Jazeera has also emerged as a point of contention, and on Thursday the broadcaster said it was battling a major cyber attack. Al-Jazeera tweeted that it was under cyber attack on all systems, websites social media platforms, and a source said it was trying to repel the hack. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have banned Al-Jazeera from the airwaves and closed the channels offices. The Arab countries closed air, sea and land links with Qatar, barred the emirates planes from their airspace and ordered Qatari citizens out within 14 days. The feud has raised fears of wider instability in an already volatile region that is a crucial global energy supplier and home to several Western military bases. Kuwait -- which unlike most of its fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members has not cut off ties with Qatar -- has been leading efforts to mediate. Its emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held talks on Wednesday with Qatari counterpart Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, following talks with senior UAE officials and Saudi King Salman. US President Donald Trump, who had initially backed the measures against Qatar in a tweet, called Sheik Tamim on Wednesday with an offer to help the parties resolve their differences. Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US airbase in the Middle East. Home to some 10,000 troops, it is central to the US-led fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. French President Emmanuel Macron has also reached out to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran in a bid to kick off negotiations. Turkey, which works closely with Qatar in the energy sector, has walked a fine line between defending Qatar and abstaining from openly antagonising Saudi Arabia.