Saudi-led bloc won't shrink list of demands

The foreign ministers of four Arab states boycotting Qatar said yesterday they would make no compromises in their demand that Doha change its policies, as a political crisis that has split the Gulf approaches its third month.

Regional kingpin Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt broke ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing the emirate of fostering Islamist extremist groups and of ties to Saudi arch-rival Iran. Qatar has denied the allegations.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, who met in the Bahraini capital yesterday, said they were open to talks with Qatar on condition it "stops its support and financing of terrorism".

"We reiterate the importance of Qatar's compliance with the 13 demands outlined by the four states," said a joint statement released yesterday.

The Saudi-led bloc in June issued the list of demands for the lifting of sanctions, including the termination of regional news giant Al-Jazeera, the downgrading of ties to Iran and the closure of a Turkish military base in the country.

The four Arab states have recalled their ambassadors from Doha, ordered all Qataris to return home and banned Qatar from using their airspace.

Qatar accuses the bloc of imposing a "blockade" on the tiny emirate and has rejected the demands as a violation of its sovereignty.

Qatar has also accused Saudi Arabia of restricting Qatari pilgrimage to Makkah, the site of the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage that falls next month.