- Title: Egypt severs ties with Qatar accusing it of supporting terrorism
- Date: 5th June 2017
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JUNE 5, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF QATAR EMBASSY VARIOUS OF QATAR FLAG ON TOP OF EMBASSY EXTERIOR OF QATAR EMBASSY TRAFFIC IN DOWNTOWN CAIRO (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CAIRO RESIDENT, HASSAN ALY HASSAN, SAYING: "Yes of course, as long as it harms us Egypt, of course we are supporting the absolute severing of relations with them." TRAFFIC IN DOWNTOWN CAIRO (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CAIRO RESIDENT, MOHAMED HASHEM, SAYING: "Cutting the relations is a must because [Qatar], Turkey and Iran support the terrorism that we face. It is obvious. The relations must end and the Arab league should take a stance." TRAFFIC IN DOWNTOWN CAIRO (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CAIRO RESIDENT, NERMINE, SAYING: "This step should have come earlier. This is enough. It is harbouring the people that are harming us although there are others that are still here in Egypt." TRAFFIC IN DOWNTOWN CAIRO PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STREET
- Embargoed: 19th June 2017 11:56
- Keywords: support for Muslim brotherhood Qatar Egyptians on Qatar Egypt and Qatar
- Location: CAIRO, EGYPT / RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- City: CAIRO, EGYPT / RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016K038ZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Residents of Cairo expressed their support for the government decision on Monday (June 5) to cut ties with Qatar, accusing the Gulf Arab state of supporting "terrorist" organisations including the Muslim Brotherhood which Egypt regards as a dangerous political enemy.
Three other Gulf Arab states, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, also cut diplomatic and consular relations with the state of Qatar on Monday, opening up the worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world.
The coordinated move, with Yemen and Libya's eastern-based government joining in later, created a dramatic rift among the Arab nations, many of which are in OPEC. Qatar said it was facing a campaign aimed at weakening it, denying it was interfering in the affairs of other countries.
Iran, long at odds with Saudi Arabia and a behind-the-scenes target of the move, immediately blamed U.S. President Donald Trump for setting the stage during his recent trip to Riyadh last month.
Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, said on its state news agency that Qatar's policy "threatens Arab national security and sows the seeds of strife and division within Arab societies according to a deliberate plan aimed at the unity and interests of the Arab nation." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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