Saudi-led bloc agrees to 48-hour extension for Doha

By Ahmed al-Masri and Gülsen Topcu

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AA) – Four countries that have imposed a blockade against Qatar have agreed to extend a deadline for which Doha has to respond to a list of demands, according to Saudi state news agency Monday.

A joint statement issued by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain Egypt and the United Arab Emirates said the group accepted the request by Kuwait.

Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah demanded the Saudi-led bloc extend the Sunday deadline for 48 hours as Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdurrahman Al-Thani is set to meet al-Sabah on Monday and the Qatari government “confirmed” it would then announce an official response.

The diplomatic row erupted June 5 when the four nations and Yemen abruptly cut diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing it of interfering in domestic affairs of other countries in the region and supporting terrorist groups.

They also imposed a land, sea and air blockade.

The Qatari government has strongly rejected the accusations and stressed the blockade was a violation of international law.