Qatar Responds To The Arab Quartet Demands

Doha, July 5 (IANS): The four Arab countries who had cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar and have placed a blockade for travel have said that Doha has responded to their list of demands.

After accusing the Qatar of funding terrorism and destabilising the Middle East, charges, which the country denies, The four countries namely Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia had suspended diplomatic relations and cut off land, sea and air travel to Qatar in June.

The four-country bloc had issued a 12-day ultimatum to Qatar -- that expires at midnight on Wednesday -- to respond to their list of 13 demands as a precondition to restoring bilateral ties, CNN reported.

Kuwait which is acting as mediator in the dispute has handed over Qatar's response to the Arab quartet, the report said.

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohamed bin Abderrahman al Zani had refused to reveal the details of Doha's formal response, and reiterated that the list of demands were "unrealistic and not actionable".

The demands included the closure of the Al Jazeera media network, a reduction in diplomatic ties with Iran and the halting of a Turkish military base in Qatar.

The four countries also did not divulge details of the response but said they will respond in due time.

Foreign Ministers of the four countries are set to meet in Cairo later in the day to discuss Qatar's response.