Qatar rejects Saudi-led bloc' allegations, terms it baseless

Doha [Qatar] Jul 8 (ANI): Expressing regret over the recent remark of the Saudi-led Arab states, Qatar said that the accusations levelled against it of supporting terrorism are false and baseless.

A press release from Qatar's Foreign Ministry read, "The State of Qatar expressed regret over the content of the two statements issued in Cairo and Jeddah by the four siege countries and the false accusations included in them that amount to defamation in contradiction with the established foundations of international relations," reported Anadolu.

The letter further stated that Qatar was an active member committed to international conventions in combating terrorism.

"A senior Foreign Ministry source described the statements' claims about the State of Qatar's interference in internal affairs of countries and financing terrorism as baseless allegations, noting that the State of Qatar's position on terrorism is consistent and known for its rejection and condemnation of all forms of terrorism whatever the causes and motives are," the statement added.

Earlier, four Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, said they would continue their diplomatic and economic blockade of Qatar after the nation gave a "negative" response to their list of demands.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain severed their ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

On 22 June, the four nations put forth a 13-point list of demands - including ending support for the Muslim Brotherhood, closing of al-Jazeera, a reduction in diplomatic ties with Iran, and the halting of a Turkish military base in Qatar -and gave Qatar 10 days to comply.

That deadline was extended by 48 hours on Sunday, when Qatar responded to their demands.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Qatar's answers were "overall negative and lacked any substance."

"This position shows the lack of awareness of how dangerous the situation is," CNN quoted Shoukry as saying.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the four nations would consult and soon decide on the future steps at the right time

Qatar's foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said his nation won't comply with any demands that it considers a violation of international law.

"If you are looking at the demands -- there are accusations that Qatar is supporting terrorism -- they are shutting free speech, shutting the media outlets, expelling people. ... So there are a lot of demands which are against the international law," CNN quoted him as saying. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI