Tillerson calls on Arab nations to ease blockade on Qatar

USA president Donald Trump is ramping up pressure on Qatar to stop what he calls a “high level” of financial support of terrorism. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also spoken to Qatar’s emir over the crisis.

The US has called on the Gulf states to “de-escalate” their row with Qatar, saying it has caused unintended “humanitarian” consequences.

Despite calling for an ease to the blockade, Tillerson said Qatar needs to do more to address terrorism financing.

“Stop teaching people to kill other people”.

Qatar has backed Islamist movements but strongly denies supporting terrorism.

Qatar sought today to enlist support from overseas after Saudi Arabia and its allies placed several Qataris and Doha-based organisations on a “terror list” in an escalating Gulf diplomatic crisis. Saudi Arabia and its neighbors have also been accused of this, as Trump himself seemed to hint Friday.

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Meanwhile, the crisis is drawing in more countries.

Qatari planes were banned from using some of their neighbours’ airspace.

Al-Thani also rejected any notion of shutting down the Qatar-based al-Jazeera satellite news network, suggested as a demand of the Arab nations.

The statement, attributed to the Ministry of Interior, said there was no change in policy toward the nationals of “brotherly and friendly countries which cut or reduced diplomatic relations following the malicious and hostile campaigns against Qatar”.

Donald Trump praises the blockade.

A tweet from President Trump Tuesday tied Qatar to the “funding of radical ideology”.

Media captionThe economic disruption could have an impact on Qatar if the dispute drags on.

In his remarks, Trump said he has just returned from a historic trip to Europe and the Middle East, where he worked to strengthen its alliances, forge new friendships and unite all civilized peoples in the fight against terrorism. Qatar is home to the biggest American airbase in the region, with about 10,000 troops.

Erdogan said Saudi Arabia, as the dominant Arab state in the Gulf region, should be leading efforts to unite the Arab “fraternity” there rather than dividing it. “There is a continuous escalation from these countries … but our strategic options are still diplomacy and dialogue”, added Sheikh Mohammed, after holding talks with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel.

They issued the list hours after Qatar said it would not “surrender” and rejected any interference in its foreign policy.

He echoed an allegation the Saudi-led group has used to justify cutting diplomatic ties to the tiny gas-rich country.

Trump bashed Qatar as a “funder of terrorism at a very high level” and called on it to stop funding terrorist organizations.