Politics
11:49, 05-Jul-2017
Qatar slams demands as Saudi-coalition deadline looms
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Qatar says the demands made by Arab nations to end the Gulf diplomatic crisis are impossible to meet, as a deadline fast approaches for a response from the emirate. Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani slammed the "unrealistic" demands during a press conference in Doha Tuesday.
Al-Thani questioned how the demands "can fall within the context of international law," and said no "independent state can accept" such proposals.
He handed an official response on Monday to Kuwait, which is mediating in the dispute, but its contents have not been disclosed. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, which all cut diplomatic ties and transport links with Qatar a month ago, have threatened further sanctions if Doha does not meet their demands. They gave Qatar an extra 48 hours after an initial 10-day deadline expired on Sunday.
The demands included Doha ending support for the Muslim Brotherhood, closing broadcaster Al Jazeera, downgrading diplomatic ties with Iran and shutting down a Turkish military base in the emirate. These four nations will meet in Egypt on Wednesday to discuss the crisis.