Four Arab countries vow ‘political, economic and legal measures’ after Qatar delivered response to demands.
The Saudi-led bloc blames Qatar for ‘continuing to seek to sabotage and undermine the security and stability in the Gulf region’ [EPA]
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have vowed to take ‘political, economic and legal measures’ after Qatar refusal to accept a list of demands presented by the four countries.
In a joint statement released late on Thursday, the Saudi-led group also blamed Qatar for “continuing to seek to sabotage and undermine the security and stability in the Gulf region”.
“We will take all necessary measures, political, economic and legal, as we see fit and at the right time to ensure our rights, security, stability, and protection of our interest from the aggressive policy of Qatari the government,” the statement said.
On Monday, Qatar delivered its response to a list of 13 demandsfrom Saudi Arabia and three other Arab countries that cut have ties with it and imposed a land, air and sea embargo amid a major diplomatic crisis .
Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the country will do “whatever it takes to protect our people”, as he accused the Gulf states of trying to undermine his nation’s sovereignty.
The group severed air, sea and ground links with Qatar, cutting off vital routes for imports including food.
They also ordered Qatari citizens to leave their territories and took various steps against Qatari firms and financial institutions.
On June 22, they issued a 13-point list of demands, including the shutdown of broadcast giant Al-Jazeera, as a prerequisite to lift the sanctions, which include the closure of Qatar’s only land border and suspension of all flights to and from the country.
Saudi Arabia and its allies now consider the demands, sent via mediator Kuwait, “null and void” as the Qatari government had “thwarted all diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis”, the statement added.
Earlier on Thursday, the US state department warned that the Gulf crisis is at an impasse and could potentially drag on for weeks or even months.
The US believes the crisis could “possibly even intensify”, Heather Nauert, the spokeswoman for the state department, said.
Nauert did not specify what type of escalation the US fears, but she said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson remains in close contact with the countries involved.
Saudi-led group disappointed and considering further action against Qatar.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
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