Qatar's foreign minister said on Tuesday that the country is ready for mediation efforts after some of the biggest powers in the region severed ties with Doha. The minister also said that Qatar's ruler delayed a speech in order to give Kuwait a chance to ease regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with Qatar in a coordinated move on Monday. Yemen, Libya's eastern-based government and the Maldives joined later and transport links were shut down.
Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, spoke overnight by telephone with his Kuwaiti counterpart and decided to postpone a speech to the Qatari people as requested. Kuwait has maintained diplomatic ties with Qatar.
Doha also decided not to take retaliatory actions.
Qatar wants to give Kuwait's Sheikh, Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber al-Sabah, the ability to "proceed and communicate with the parties to the crisis and to try to contain the issue," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told Al Jazeera.
(Source: Reuters)
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