Qatar calls for dialogue to resolve Gulf crisis

Qatar called for dialogue to resolve the Gulf diplomatic crisis, and accused the Arab states that have cut ties with the country of trying to undermine the nation's sovereignty.

"Qatar continues to call for dialogue," Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told the Chatham House think tank in London, as the Arab states held talks in Egypt to discuss their next move.

He said the international law should be respected no matter what further measures Arab countries might take against Qatar.

"We welcome any serious efforts to resolve our differences with our neighbors," he said, adding that "we don't accept intervention in our own affairs."

He accused Saudi Arabia and its regional allies of demanding the country to "surrender" its sovereignty as the price for ending the siege.

Saudi Arabia and its allies announced on June 5 they were severing ties with their Gulf neighbor, sparking the worst diplomatic crisis to hit the region in decades.

The crisis has raised concerns of growing instability in the region, home to some of the world's largest energy exporters and several key Western allies who host US military bases.

(With input from AFP and Reuters)