Qatar says ready for mediation to ease Gulf rift

Dubai - Doha also decided not to retaliate against the measures.

Qatar's foreign minister said on Tuesday Doha was ready for mediation efforts after the Arab world's biggest powers severed ties with it, adding that Qatar Ruler had delayed a speech in order to give Kuwait a chance to ease regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with Qatar in a coordinated move on Monday. Yemen, Libya's eastern-based government and the Maldives joined later and transport links were shut down.
Amir of Qatar His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke by telephone overnight with his counterpart in Kuwait, which has maintained diplomatic ties with Qatar, and decided to postpone a speech to the Qatari people as requested.
Doha also decided not to retaliate against the measures.
Qatar wants to give Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah the ability to "proceed and communicate with the parties to the crisis and to try to contain the issue," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in comments to Qatar-based television.

Kuwait Amir had an important role in a previous Gulf rift in 2014 and Sheikh Tamim "regards him as a parent and respects his desire to postpone any speech or step until there is a clearer picture of the crisis," the channel quoted the foreign minister as saying.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the channel that the measures taken against Qatar had an "unprecedented impact" on its citizens and on family relations in the Gulf Arab region, but said Doha will not take counter measures.
Qatar "believes such differences between sister countries must be resolved through dialogue."

• Qatar
• MENA