Saudi Arabia, Bahrain sever diplomatic ties with Qatar

By Ramazan Turgut

RIYAD, Saudi Arabia (AA) – Saudi Arabia and Bahrain announced early Monday they severed all diplomatic ties with Qatar for national security reasons, according to the countries’ official news agencies.

Both countries have blocked Qatar from their airspaces and requested all Qatari diplomats to leave within 48 hours.

Bahrain accused the Qatari government of “destabilizing the security and stability of the Kingdom of Bahrain and to intervene in its affairs” in a statement from its foreign ministry.

“[Qatar has] spread chaos in Bahrain in flagrant violation of all agreements and covenants and principles of international law without regard to values, law or morals or consideration of the principles of good neighborliness or commitment to the constants of Gulf relations and the denial of all previous commitments,” it said.

Qatari citizens have 14 days to leave Bahraini territories. Bahrain also recalled its diplomats from Qatar, it added.