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Saudi, Egypt, Bahrain, UAE, Yemen cut diplomatic ties with Qatar
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Yemen have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of destabilising the region on Monday, media reports said.Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Yemen have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of destabilising the region on Monday, media reports said.
The group of Arab nations alleged Qatar of backing militant groups including the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.
Likewise, the UAE has asked Qatari diplomats to leave their nation within 48 hours.
The Saudi state news agency Saudi Press Agency said Riyadh had closed its borders, severing land, sea and air contact with Qatar.
Meanwhile, UAE airlines Etihad Airways, Emirates and Flydubai have said they would suspend all flights to and from Qatari Capital Doha.
In a press statement, Etihad Airways Nepal said that the airliner’s flights from Kathmandu to Doha were being suspended from today. This is bound to hit hard Nepali workers flying to the gulf nation for employment. Etihad Airways was operating two flights to Qatar via Abu Dhabi daily.
According to BBC, the move comes in the context of increased tensions between Gulf countries and their near-neighbour Iran. The Saudi statement accused Qatar of collaborating with Iranian-backed militias.