Arab nations extended a deadline early Monday for Qatar to respond to
their list of demands in a diplomatic crisis roiling the Gulf, saying
Kuwait's Emir requested the delay as part of his efforts to mediate the
dispute.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut off
ties with Qatar on June 5, restricting access to their airspace and
ports and sealing Qatar's only land border, which it shares with Saudi
Arabia.
They issued a 13-point list of demands to end the standoff June 22 and gave Qatar 10 days to comply.
The joint statement early Monday by the Arab nations said they
expected Qatar to respond to their demands on Monday. The new deadline
would expire late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
"The response of the four states will then be sent following the
study of the Qatari government's response and assessment of its response
to the whole demands," the statement said.
The four nations cut ties to Qatar over allegations it supports
extremists and over worries it maintains too-close ties to Iran. Qatar
long has denied sponsoring militants and maintains ties to Iran as it
shares a massive offshore natural gas field with the country.
Abdelaziz al-Yafaei, a Qatari out for an evening walk along the
city's bayside, said he was reassured that things would be fine,
regardless of what happens over the course of the next days.
"We have a government, thank God, that is wise and knows how to
provide for all of our needs, how to maintain security," he said. "We
have enough funds in the country, on the economic side. All of the
affairs are headed for the better."
Qatar's foreign minister, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al
Thani, during a press briefing in Rome on Saturday, said they were never
meant to be accepted and that his country "is prepared to face whatever
consequences."
While in Rome, Al Thani met with Italian Foreign Minister Angelino
Alfano, who gave his backing to ongoing mediation efforts led by Kuwait.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has also tried to resolve the
dispute, with the U.S. last week urging Saudi Arabia and its allies to
stay "open to negotiation" with Qatar.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has separately spoken with the
leaders of Qatar and Bahrain, urging direct dialogue among all the
states involved, according to statements released by the Kremlin on
Saturday.
