Saudi, Bahrain, UAE cut off all ties with Qatar
MANAMA, June 5, 2017
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt have has severed diplomatic relations with Qatar over security issues in a major row between members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, media reports said.
A statement attibuted to an official source on SPA said it will "start immediate legal procedures for understanding with fraternal and friendly countries and international companies to implement the same procedure as soon as possible for all means of transport to and from Qatar for reasons relating to Saudi national security."
Bahrain is also withdrawing its diplomatic mission from Doha and giving all members of the Qatari diplomatic mission 48 hours to leave the Kingdom and the completion of the necessary procedures, the report said.
Bahrain is also closing its airspace, ports and territorial waters to air traffic and shipping to and from Qatar within 24 hours of the announcement of the statement.
Bahrain is also banning its citizens from travelling to Qatar or staying there, while Qatari citizens are not allowed to enter or pass through Bahrain.
Qatari residents and visitors are therefore given 14 days to leave the Kingdom in order to avoid any hostile attempts or activities that may exploit the situation, according to the report.
The dangerous Qatari practices have not been confined to the Kingdom of Bahrain, but have also been extended to sister countries that have been informed that such acts reflect a very dangerous pattern which cannot be ignored or accepted and must be addressed with full strength and firmness, the report said.
