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list demands to end Qatar crisis, Latest World News - The New Paper
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Arab states 
list demands to end Qatar crisis

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DUBAI: Four Arab states boycotting Qatar over alleged support for terrorism have sent Doha a list of 13 demands, including closing Al Jazeera television and reducing ties with their regional adversary Iran, an official of one of the four countries said.

The demands aimed at ending the worst Gulf Arab crisis in years appear designed to quash a two decade-old foreign policy in which Qatar has punched well above its weight, striding the stage as a peace broker, often in conflicts in Muslim lands.

Doha's independent-minded approach, including a dovish line on Iran and support for Islamist groups, in particular the Muslim Brotherhood, has incensed some of its neighbours who see political Islam as a threat to their dynastic rule.

CUT TIES

The list, compiled by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, which cut economic, diplomatic and travel ties to Doha on June 5, also demands the closing of a Turkish military base in Qatar, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.

Qatar must also announce it is severing ties with terrorist, ideological and sectarian organisations including the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State, Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Jabhat Fateh al Sham, he said, and surrender all designated terrorists on its territory.

Qatari officials did not reply immediately to requests for comment. But, on Monday, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Qatar would not negotiate with the four states unless they lifted their measures against Doha.

The countries gave Doha 10 days to comply, failing which the list becomes "void", the official said without elaborating, suggesting the offer to end the dispute in return for the 13 steps would no longer be on the table.

The demands also require that Qatar stop interfering in the four countries' domestic and foreign affairs, and stop a practice of giving Qatari nationality to citizens of the four countries, said the official.- REUTERS

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