A Bahraini opposition leader and Shia Muslim cleric was sentenced on Sunday to life in prison by the Supreme Court of Appeals for allegedly spying for Qatar, overturning an earlier acquittal by a lower court, Bahrain's office of the public prosecutor announced.

Sheikh Ali Salman, who heads the banned political opposition group al-Wefaq, along with fellow opposition leaders Sheikh Hassan Sultan and Ali Alaswad had their June acquittals overturned, although a member of their legal defense said an appeal was in the works.

"The defense team will appeal the decision before the Court of Cassation (Bahrain's final court of appeal)," one of Salman's lawyers, who asked not to be identified, told EFE following the trial without giving further details.

These sentences come in the run-up to parliamentary and municipal elections in Bahrain, scheduled for November 24, in which the main opposition parties such as al-Wefaq are not allowed to take part.

According to the prosecutor's office, the three opposition members had allegedly maintained contacts with Qatari intelligence services since 2010, passing on sensitive information in exchange for financial compensation, and had spread rumors through the Qatari news channel Al Jazeera to allegedly provoke chaos and the overthrow Bahrain's government.

In response to the ruling, Amnesty International said "This verdict is a travesty of justice that demonstrates the Bahraini authorities' relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent," according to a statement from Middle East and North Africa Director Heba Morayef.

Salman was already sentenced to four years in prison in 2015 for allegedly insulting the interior ministry, inciting hatred and calling for disobedience, and his sentence was extended to nine years in 2016 for supposedly attempting to overthrow the government.

The espionage charges were first made in the midst of the diplomatic crisis that broke out in June 2017 between Qatar and four Arab countries, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Bahraini authorities, with the help of military forces from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, crushed the 2011 popular uprising led by the country's Shia Muslim majority, which has long felt discriminated against by the Sunni Muslim monarchy.

A Bahraini opposition leader and Shia Muslim cleric was sentenced on Sunday to life in prison by the Supreme Court of Appeals for allegedly spying for Qatar, overturning an earlier acquittal by a lower court, Bahrain's office of the public prosecutor announced.

A Bahraini opposition leader and Shia Muslim cleric was sentenced on Sunday to life in prison by the Supreme Court of Appeals for allegedly spying for Qatar, overturning an earlier acquittal by a lower court, Bahrain's office of the public prosecutor announced. Sheikh Ali Salman, who heads the banned political opposition group al-Wefaq, along with fellow opposition leaders Sheikh Hassan Sultan and Ali Alaswad had their June acquittals overturned, although a member of their legal defense said an appeal was in the works. "The defense team will appeal the decision before the Court of Cassation (Bahrain's final court of appeal)," one of Salman's lawyers, who asked not to be identified, told EFE following the trial without giving further details. These sentences come in the run-up to parliamentary and municipal elections in Bahrain, scheduled for November 24, in which the main opposition parties such as al-Wefaq are not allowed to take part. According to the prosecutor's office, the three opposition members had allegedly maintained contacts with Qatari intelligence services since 2010, passing on sensitive information in exchange for financial compensation, and had spread rumors through the Qatari news channel Al Jazeera to allegedly provoke chaos and the overthrow Bahrain's government. In response to the ruling, Amnesty International said "This verdict is a travesty of justice that demonstrates the Bahraini authorities' relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent," according to a statement from Middle East and North Africa Director Heba Morayef. Salman was already sentenced to four years in prison in 2015 for allegedly insulting the interior ministry, inciting hatred and calling for disobedience, and his sentence was extended to nine years in 2016 for supposedly attempting to overthrow the government. The espionage charges were first made in the midst of the diplomatic crisis that broke out in June 2017 between Qatar and four Arab countries, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Bahraini authorities, with the help of military forces from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, crushed the 2011 popular uprising led by the country's Shia Muslim majority, which has long felt discriminated against by the Sunni Muslim monarchy.

Bahrain opposition leader sentenced to life in prison for alleged spying

An apartment building collapsed in Bahrain's capital late on Tuesday leaving at least four people dead and 20 injured, the interior ministry said.

Three bodies were found at the site in Manama's Salmaniya neighbourhood and one person died in hospital, the ministry said.

An apartment building collapsed in Bahrain's capital late on Tuesday leaving at least four people dead and 20 injured, the interior ministry said. Three bodies were found at the site in Manama's Salmaniya neighbourhood and one person died in hospital, the ministry said.

Bahrain building collapse kills four, injures at least 20: Ministry

Qatar has ordered shops to remove goods originating from a group of Saudi Arabian-led countries which a year ago imposed a wide-ranging boycott on the emirate, Doha officials said Saturday.&nbsp

A directive from the economy ministry ordered shops to immediately strip shelves of products from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.

Inspectors will visit stores to ensure they comply with the order, the ministry said.

The government will also try and stop products such as Saudi dairy goods from entering Qatar via a third country.

Qatar's Government Communications Office (GCO) said it was trying to "protect the safety of consumers".

"Products originating from blockading states, which as a result of the blockade cannot pass the GCC customs territory, has to undergo proper import inspections and customs procedures," the GCO said in a statement.&nbsp

"Qatar conducts its trade policy in accordance with all of its multilateral and bilateral agreements."

The order comes just days before the anniversary of a bitter Gulf crisis.

Since June 5 last year, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have cut all relations with Qatar, accusing it of financing terrorist groups and having close ties with Iran.

The countries subsequently imposed a trade and diplomatic boycott on Qatar, which rejects the charges and says the countries are seeking regime change in Doha.

The row has forced isolated Qatar, which previously relied on its Gulf neighbours, to look elsewhere for food imports, including Turkey, Morocco and Iran.&nbsp

Many such imports enter the country via ports such as Kuwait and Oman.

It is through these ports, and also via individuals, that goods from the boycotting countries manage to get in to Qatar, said a source with knowledge of the situation.

"Businessmen from the blockading countries are trying to go around the blockade... by using third parties," said the source. &nbspQatar has ordered shops to remove goods originating from a group of Saudi Arabian-led countries which a year ago imposed a wide-ranging boycott on the emirate, Doha officials said Saturday.&nbsp

A directive from the economy ministry ordered shops to immediately strip shelves of products from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.

Inspectors will visit stores to ensure they comply with the order, the ministry said.

The government will also try and stop products such as Saudi dairy goods from entering Qatar via a third country.

Qatar's Government Communications Office (GCO) said it was trying to "protect the safety of consumers".

"Products originating from blockading states, which as a result of the blockade cannot pass the GCC customs territory, has to undergo proper import inspections and customs procedures," the GCO said in a statement.&nbsp

"Qatar conducts its trade policy in accordance with all of its multilateral and bilateral agreements."

The order comes just days before the anniversary of a bitter Gulf crisis.

Since June 5 last year, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have cut all relations with Qatar, accusing it of financing terrorist groups and having close ties with Iran.

The countries subsequently imposed a trade and diplomatic boycott on Qatar, which rejects the charges and says the countries are seeking regime change in Doha.

The row has forced isolated Qatar, which previously relied on its Gulf neighbours, to look elsewhere for food imports, including Turkey, Morocco and Iran.&nbsp

Many such imports enter the country via ports such as Kuwait and Oman.

It is through these ports, and also via individuals, that goods from the boycotting countries manage to get into Qatar, said a source with knowledge of the situation.

"Businessmen from the blockading countries are trying to go around the blockade... by using third parties," said the source. &nbsp

A directive from the economy ministry ordered shops to immediately strip shelves of products from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt

Qatar has ordered shops to remove goods originating from a group of Saudi Arabian-led countries which a year ago imposed a wide-ranging boycott on the emirate, Doha officials said Saturday. A directive from the economy ministry ordered shops to immediately strip shelves of products from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. Inspectors will visit stores to ensure they comply with the order, the ministry said. The government will also try and stop products such as Saudi dairy goods from entering Qatar via a third country. Qatar's Government Communications Office (GCO) said it was trying to "protect the safety of consumers". "Products originating from blockading states, which as a result of the blockade cannot pass the GCC customs territory, has to undergo proper import inspections and customs procedures," the GCO said in a statement. "Qatar conducts its trade policy in accordance with all of its multilateral and bilateral agreements." The order comes just days before the anniversary of a bitter Gulf crisis. Since June 5 last year, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have cut all relations with Qatar, accusing it of financing terrorist groups and having close ties with Iran. The countries subsequently imposed a trade and diplomatic boycott on Qatar, which rejects the charges and says the countries are seeking regime change in Doha. The row has forced isolated Qatar, which previously relied on its Gulf neighbours, to look elsewhere for food imports, including Turkey, Morocco and Iran. Many such imports enter the country via ports such as Kuwait and Oman. It is through these ports, and also via individuals, that goods from the boycotting countries manage to get in to Qatar, said a source with knowledge of the situation. "Businessmen from the blockading countries are trying to go around the blockade... by using third parties," said the source. &nbspQatar has ordered shops to remove goods originating from a group of Saudi Arabian-led countries which a year ago imposed a wide-ranging boycott on the emirate, Doha officials said Saturday. A directive from the economy ministry ordered shops to immediately strip shelves of products from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. Inspectors will visit stores to ensure they comply with the order, the ministry said. The government will also try and stop products such as Saudi dairy goods from entering Qatar via a third country. Qatar's Government Communications Office (GCO) said it was trying to "protect the safety of consumers". "Products originating from blockading states, which as a result of the blockade cannot pass the GCC customs territory, has to undergo proper import inspections and customs procedures," the GCO said in a statement. "Qatar conducts its trade policy in accordance with all of its multilateral and bilateral agreements." The order comes just days before the anniversary of a bitter Gulf crisis. Since June 5 last year, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have cut all relations with Qatar, accusing it of financing terrorist groups and having close ties with Iran. The countries subsequently imposed a trade and diplomatic boycott on Qatar, which rejects the charges and says the countries are seeking regime change in Doha. The row has forced isolated Qatar, which previously relied on its Gulf neighbours, to look elsewhere for food imports, including Turkey, Morocco and Iran. Many such imports enter the country via ports such as Kuwait and Oman. It is through these ports, and also via individuals, that goods from the boycotting countries manage to get into Qatar, said a source with knowledge of the situation. "Businessmen from the blockading countries are trying to go around the blockade... by using third parties," said the source.

Qatar bans Saudi, UAE goods from stores

A rise in tension between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in a row over military flights threatens US&nbsp;strategic interests in the Gulf and could benefit regional rival Iran.

Abu Dhabi says Qatari air force jets intercepted two UAE civilian aircraft on commercial flights to Bahrain last month, and Doha says UAE military aircraft violated its airspace on Dec. 21 and January 3.

Each denies the other&#39;s accusations and the two energy-producing states have sought to ease the dispute. The risk of a confrontation between them has increased but a war between them is unlikely, regional experts say.

The increase in tension, seven months after the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt imposed travel and trade sanctions on Qatar over accusations -- denied by Doha -- that it supports terrorism and regional rival Iran, has alarmed Washington.

&quot;When you have Qatari (military) planes being scrambled near a civilian airliner, it runs the risk of an incident that, even unplanned, could result in the loss of lives and escalate this into an situation Gulf countries have never had among each other,&quot; said a Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Gabriel Collins, an expert on financial sanctions at Rice University in Texas, said &quot;military posturing&quot; against a background of underlying tension because of the diplomatic and trade sanctions &quot;left space for a miscalculation.&quot;

&quot;A very small spark can, in a worst-case scenario, light a huge fire,&quot; he said.

US&nbsp;Defense Secretary James Mattis has said the fracturing of ties among its Gulf Arab allies hinders Washington&#39;s fight against Islamic State and &quot;countering the spread of Iran&#39;s malign influence&quot;.

Iran has criticised the restrictions on Qatar and called for the rift to be resolved through dialogue. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has lamented what he called a &quot;dialogue deficit&quot; in the region.

The Gulf is a strategically important area for the United States. The US&nbsp;Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain and the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar is a centre of its air operations against Islamic State.

&quot;The United States considers both Qatar and the UAE to be critical regional partners,&quot; a US&nbsp;Air Forces Central Command spokesman in Qatar said in response to a Reuters request for comment on the incidents. He called for &quot;meaningful solutions to reduce tensions.&quot;

The base would be crucial if the United States were to go to war with Iran, which Washington says sponsors terrorism and is a threat to stability and US&nbsp;interests in the Middle East. Tehran denies the accusations.

Abu Dhabi says Qatari air force jets intercepted two UAE civilian aircraft on commercial flights to Bahrain last month, and Doha says UAE military aircraft violated its airspace on Dec. 21 and January 3

A rise in tension between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in a row over military flights threatens US strategic interests in the Gulf and could benefit regional rival Iran. Abu Dhabi says Qatari air force jets intercepted two UAE civilian aircraft on commercial flights to Bahrain last month, and Doha says UAE military aircraft violated its airspace on Dec. 21 and January 3. Each denies the other's accusations and the two energy-producing states have sought to ease the dispute. The risk of a confrontation between them has increased but a war between them is unlikely, regional experts say. The increase in tension, seven months after the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt imposed travel and trade sanctions on Qatar over accusations -- denied by Doha -- that it supports terrorism and regional rival Iran, has alarmed Washington. "When you have Qatari (military) planes being scrambled near a civilian airliner, it runs the risk of an incident that, even unplanned, could result in the loss of lives and escalate this into an situation Gulf countries have never had among each other," said a Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. Gabriel Collins, an expert on financial sanctions at Rice University in Texas, said "military posturing" against a background of underlying tension because of the diplomatic and trade sanctions "left space for a miscalculation." "A very small spark can, in a worst-case scenario, light a huge fire," he said. US Defense Secretary James Mattis has said the fracturing of ties among its Gulf Arab allies hinders Washington's fight against Islamic State and "countering the spread of Iran's malign influence". Iran has criticised the restrictions on Qatar and called for the rift to be resolved through dialogue. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has lamented what he called a "dialogue deficit" in the region. The Gulf is a strategically important area for the United States. The US Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain and the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar is a centre of its air operations against Islamic State. "The United States considers both Qatar and the UAE to be critical regional partners," a US Air Forces Central Command spokesman in Qatar said in response to a Reuters request for comment on the incidents. He called for "meaningful solutions to reduce tensions." The base would be crucial if the United States were to go to war with Iran, which Washington says sponsors terrorism and is a threat to stability and US interests in the Middle East. Tehran denies the accusations.

Iran could be winner, US a loser from UAE-Qatar tensions

The United Arab Emirates said on Monday that Qatari fighter jets intercepted an Emirati civilian aircraft during a routine flight to Bahrain, which Qatar denied, escalating a months-old feud between the Gulf Arab states.

The UAE Civil Aviation authority condemned the alleged incident and said it would take &quot;all necessary legal measures to ensure the safety and security of civil air traffic.&quot;

Sheikh Saif Bin Ahmed al-Thani, the director of Qatar`s government communications office, said on his official Twitter account that the charge was &quot;completely untrue&quot;.

The UAE is one of four Arab countries, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, that imposed travel, diplomatic and trade sanctions on Qatar in June 2017, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism. Qatar has denied the charges.

On Friday, Qatar filed a complaint with the United Nations about an alleged violation of its airspace in December by an Emirati military aircraft.

Qatari authorities said the violation on Dec. 21, which the UAE denied, lasted one minute.

The UAE Civil Aviation authority condemned the alleged incident and said it would take "all necessary legal measures to ensure the safety and security of civil air traffic."

The United Arab Emirates said on Monday that Qatari fighter jets intercepted an Emirati civilian aircraft during a routine flight to Bahrain, which Qatar denied, escalating a months-old feud between the Gulf Arab states. The UAE Civil Aviation authority condemned the alleged incident and said it would take "all necessary legal measures to ensure the safety and security of civil air traffic." Sheikh Saif Bin Ahmed al-Thani, the director of Qatar`s government communications office, said on his official Twitter account that the charge was "completely untrue". The UAE is one of four Arab countries, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, that imposed travel, diplomatic and trade sanctions on Qatar in June 2017, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism. Qatar has denied the charges. On Friday, Qatar filed a complaint with the United Nations about an alleged violation of its airspace in December by an Emirati military aircraft. Qatari authorities said the violation on Dec. 21, which the UAE denied, lasted one minute.

UAE says Qatari fighter jets intercepted civilian flight

Congress President Rahul Gandhi told&nbsp;NRIs in Bahrain on Monday that there &quot;is a serious problem at home&quot;.&nbsp;

He went on to say that &quot;job creation is at an eight-year low&quot;. And that instead of focusing on the &quot;removal of poverty&quot; and &quot;job creating&quot;, the country was instead seeing a rise in the &quot;forces of hate and division&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;Instead of accepting that we are struggling to create jobs, instead of uniting people of all religions and communities together to face the challenge, the government is busy converting the fear being generated in jobless youth into hatred between communities,&quot; Gandhi said.&nbsp;

He added that he was there to tell the non-resident Indians what they meant to their country, and that they were part of the solution.&nbsp;

&quot;Your talent, skills, tolerance, patriotism is what India needs today. You have shown us how you have built the countries you have journeyed to,&quot; Gandhi added.&nbsp;

Gandhi was addressing the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin in Bahrain.&nbsp;

Gandhi, who recently took over as president of the Congress party from his mother Sonia, has made some of his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-in-us-makes-no-holds-barred-attack-on-pm-modi-20102" target="_blank">strongest attacks on the government</a>&nbsp;while abroad.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-gives-second-address-in-us-talks-jobs-20418" target="_blank">Central question</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-gives-second-address-in-us-talks-jobs-20418" target="_blank"> is how does India give its people jobs?</a>&nbsp;

ANI also reported Gandhi, while interacting with the Indian diaspora after his address, as saying that &quot;Gujarat BJP ka gadh hai aur wahan bach ke nikli hai BJP&quot;.&nbsp;

The BJP had recently <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-wins-gujarat-but-does-not-cross-100-mark-takes-himachal-easily-27117" target="_blank">won the Gujarat elections</a>, coming back to power for a sixth time despite ruling the state for 22 years straight, where it won 99 seats against the Congress&#39; 77 in the 182-seat house.&nbsp;

BJP President Amit Shah had earlier said his party would win a total of 150 seats.&nbsp;

Instead of focusing on the 'removal of poverty' and 'job creating', the country was instead seeing a rise in the 'forces of hate and division', Gandhi said

Congress President Rahul Gandhi told NRIs in Bahrain on Monday that there "is a serious problem at home". He went on to say that "job creation is at an eight-year low". And that instead of focusing on the "removal of poverty" and "job creating", the country was instead seeing a rise in the "forces of hate and division". "Instead of accepting that we are struggling to create jobs, instead of uniting people of all religions and communities together to face the challenge, the government is busy converting the fear being generated in jobless youth into hatred between communities," Gandhi said. He added that he was there to tell the non-resident Indians what they meant to their country, and that they were part of the solution. "Your talent, skills, tolerance, patriotism is what India needs today. You have shown us how you have built the countries you have journeyed to," Gandhi added. Gandhi was addressing the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin in Bahrain. Gandhi, who recently took over as president of the Congress party from his mother Sonia, has made some of his strongest attacks on the government while abroad. Also read: Central question is how does India give its people jobs? ANI also reported Gandhi, while interacting with the Indian diaspora after his address, as saying that "Gujarat BJP ka gadh hai aur wahan bach ke nikli hai BJP". The BJP had recently won the Gujarat elections, coming back to power for a sixth time despite ruling the state for 22 years straight, where it won 99 seats against the Congress' 77 in the 182-seat house. BJP President Amit Shah had earlier said his party would win a total of 150 seats.

'Serious problem at home', job creation at 8-year low: Rahul Gandhi in Bahrain

Rahul Gandhi will embark next week on a visit to Bahrain, his first foreign trip after becoming Congress president, during which he will address a convention of NRIs and is likely to meet the country&#39;s prime minister.

According to party sources, Gandhi will be the state guest of the Kingdom of Bahrain and will address NRIs settled there on January 8.

He will leave for Bahrain on January 7 and is likely to return on January 9. The NRIs settled there have invited him.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-in-us-makes-no-holds-barred-attack-on-pm-modi-20102" target="_blank">Rahul Gandhi, in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-in-us-makes-no-holds-barred-attack-on-pm-modi-20102" target="_blank">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-in-us-makes-no-holds-barred-attack-on-pm-modi-20102" target="_blank">, makes no-holds-barred attack on PM Modi</a>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-gives-second-address-in-us-talks-jobs-20418" target="_blank">Rahul Gandhi in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-gives-second-address-in-us-talks-jobs-20418" target="_blank">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-gives-second-address-in-us-talks-jobs-20418" target="_blank">: </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-gives-second-address-in-us-talks-jobs-20418" target="_blank">Central question</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-gives-second-address-in-us-talks-jobs-20418" target="_blank"> is how does India give its people jobs?</a>&nbsp;

Gandhi is also likely to meet Bahrain&#39;s Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and the members of the royal family, the sources said.

They said that he was to also address NRIs in Dubai but that visit has been postponed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to visit the UAE later this month.

Party sources say Gandhi&#39;s visit to Bahrain will be on the lines of his US trip last year. 
 
Rahul Gandhi was in Goa on New Year along with his mother Sonia Gandhi.&nbsp;

Gandhi will leave next week and will speak to the NRIs on January 8

Rahul Gandhi will embark next week on a visit to Bahrain, his first foreign trip after becoming Congress president, during which he will address a convention of NRIs and is likely to meet the country's prime minister. According to party sources, Gandhi will be the state guest of the Kingdom of Bahrain and will address NRIs settled there on January 8. He will leave for Bahrain on January 7 and is likely to return on January 9. The NRIs settled there have invited him. Also read: Rahul Gandhi, in US, makes no-holds-barred attack on PM Modi Rahul Gandhi in US: Central question is how does India give its people jobs? Gandhi is also likely to meet Bahrain's Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and the members of the royal family, the sources said. They said that he was to also address NRIs in Dubai but that visit has been postponed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to visit the UAE later this month. Party sources say Gandhi's visit to Bahrain will be on the lines of his US trip last year. Rahul Gandhi was in Goa on New Year along with his mother Sonia Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi to visit Bahrain, address NRIs

Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia snubbed its former regional ally Qatar at the annual summit Tuesday of regional monarchies as King Salman stayed away despite the presence of the Qatari emir.

The crisis-hit Gulf Cooperation Council summit was going ahead in Kuwait City but amid uncertainty over which leaders from among Riyadh and its allies would join their Qatari rival for the talks.

The future of the six-nation GCC -- formed 36 years ago to bring together energy-rich Sunni Arab Gulf states -- appeared to be hanging in the balance.

This year&#39;s meeting comes with Saudi Arabia and its allies engaged in a bitter dispute with fellow GCC member Qatar, in the worst crisis ever to hit the bloc.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani accepted an invitation to attend, but with only hours before talks were due to begin, Saudi King Salman sent his foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, in his stead.

Bahrain sent its deputy prime minister and Emirati media said the state minister for foreign affairs would represent Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;

Those three Gulf states, together with Egypt, cut all ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing the gas-rich emirate of supporting Islamist extremists and of being too close to Shiite Iran, Riyadh&#39;s arch-rival.&nbsp;

Qatar denies the allegations and has accused the Saudi-led bloc of aiming to incite a change of regime in Doha.

Kuwait has been leading mediation efforts within the GCC to resolve the crisis, but so far with little success.

Casting further doubt on the group&#39;s future, the UAE said Tuesday it was forming a new military and economic committee with Saudi Arabia separate from the GCC.&nbsp;

The committee &quot;will coordinate between the two countries in all military, political, economic, trade and cultural fields,&quot; according to a decree issued by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

Founded in 1981, the GCC is a political and economic union grouping Qatar with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as well as Oman and Kuwait.

Dominated by Riyadh, it has been a regional counterweight to Iran, Sunni Saudi Arabia&#39;s Shiite rival across the Gulf.&nbsp;

On Monday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar attended round-table talks ahead of the gathering, in their first such encounter since the diplomatic crisis erupted in June.

Omani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Yussef bin Alawi sat between them at the meeting which the foreign ministers of the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait also attended.

After cutting off all ties with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and its allies imposed a land, sea and air blockade of the emirate and issued a list of 13 demands to have it lifted.

Bahrain in October called for Qatar&#39;s membership of the GCC to be suspended until it accepted the demands.

Experts warn that the crisis could lead to the demise of the once-powerful GCC.

&quot;The justifications for the existence of the GCC bloc amidst the continued crisis are no longer present like before,&quot; said Sami al-Faraj, head of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies. &quot;As long as our enemy has changed from Iran to Qatar, the GCC will not continue.&quot;

The failure of the GCC members to solidify long-delayed plans for economic unity may also threaten its future.

The Gulf states have approved a customs union, a common market, a single currency and a single central bank, but most of these have yet to be implemented.

Speaking at Monday`s meeting, Kuwait&#39;s Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah stressed the determination of member states to preserve the GCC.

&quot;The GCC is a continuous project in which the will of member states meets to build a unified Gulf body,&quot; he said.

The crisis-hit Gulf Cooperation Council summit which was going ahead in Kuwait City witnessed the absence of the Saudi King

Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia snubbed its former regional ally Qatar at the annual summit Tuesday of regional monarchies as King Salman stayed away despite the presence of the Qatari emir. The crisis-hit Gulf Cooperation Council summit was going ahead in Kuwait City but amid uncertainty over which leaders from among Riyadh and its allies would join their Qatari rival for the talks. The future of the six-nation GCC -- formed 36 years ago to bring together energy-rich Sunni Arab Gulf states -- appeared to be hanging in the balance. This year's meeting comes with Saudi Arabia and its allies engaged in a bitter dispute with fellow GCC member Qatar, in the worst crisis ever to hit the bloc. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani accepted an invitation to attend, but with only hours before talks were due to begin, Saudi King Salman sent his foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, in his stead. Bahrain sent its deputy prime minister and Emirati media said the state minister for foreign affairs would represent Abu Dhabi. Those three Gulf states, together with Egypt, cut all ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing the gas-rich emirate of supporting Islamist extremists and of being too close to Shiite Iran, Riyadh's arch-rival. Qatar denies the allegations and has accused the Saudi-led bloc of aiming to incite a change of regime in Doha. Kuwait has been leading mediation efforts within the GCC to resolve the crisis, but so far with little success. Casting further doubt on the group's future, the UAE said Tuesday it was forming a new military and economic committee with Saudi Arabia separate from the GCC. The committee "will coordinate between the two countries in all military, political, economic, trade and cultural fields," according to a decree issued by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. Founded in 1981, the GCC is a political and economic union grouping Qatar with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as well as Oman and Kuwait. Dominated by Riyadh, it has been a regional counterweight to Iran, Sunni Saudi Arabia's Shiite rival across the Gulf. On Monday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar attended round-table talks ahead of the gathering, in their first such encounter since the diplomatic crisis erupted in June. Omani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Yussef bin Alawi sat between them at the meeting which the foreign ministers of the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait also attended. After cutting off all ties with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and its allies imposed a land, sea and air blockade of the emirate and issued a list of 13 demands to have it lifted. Bahrain in October called for Qatar's membership of the GCC to be suspended until it accepted the demands. Experts warn that the crisis could lead to the demise of the once-powerful GCC. "The justifications for the existence of the GCC bloc amidst the continued crisis are no longer present like before," said Sami al-Faraj, head of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies. "As long as our enemy has changed from Iran to Qatar, the GCC will not continue." The failure of the GCC members to solidify long-delayed plans for economic unity may also threaten its future. The Gulf states have approved a customs union, a common market, a single currency and a single central bank, but most of these have yet to be implemented. Speaking at Monday`s meeting, Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah stressed the determination of member states to preserve the GCC. "The GCC is a continuous project in which the will of member states meets to build a unified Gulf body," he said.

Saudi, allies snub Qatar at crisis-hit Gulf summit

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-bahrain-egypt-uae-cut-diplomatic-ties-with-qatar-16432">Bahrain</a>&rsquo;s oil minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Khalifa, said on Tuesday he sees no reason why the supply cut agreement between oil producing countries should not be extended on Nov. 30.

He was speaking to reporters in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/watch-macron-guest-of-honour-at-louvre-abu-dhabi-opening-23831">Abu Dhabi</a> on the sidelines of an energy conference.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/opec-countries-agree-to-first-production-cut-in-8-years-9567">OPEC</a> and other <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/non-opec-oil-states-agree-to-cuts-in-historic-deal-9993">non-OPEC producers</a> will meet on Nov. 30 in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-vienna-its-the-homeless-whore-city-guides-11304">Vienna</a> to decide on oil output policy.

OPEC and other non-OPEC producers will meet on Nov. 30 in Vienna to decide on oil output policy

Bahrain’s oil minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Khalifa, said on Tuesday he sees no reason why the supply cut agreement between oil producing countries should not be extended on Nov. 30. He was speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of an energy conference. OPEC and other non-OPEC producers will meet on Nov. 30 in Vienna to decide on oil output policy.

No reason not to extend oil cuts agreement: Bahrain oil minister

The four Arab countries that have cut ties with Qatar said on Sunday they were ready for talks to tackle the dispute if Doha showed willingness to deal with their demands.

The foreign ministers of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates met in the Bahraini capital, Manama, to discuss the crisis that has raised tensions across the region.

The Saudi-led bloc cut ties with the Gulf state on June 5, accusing it of backing militant groups and cosying up to their arch-foe Iran, allegations Doha denies.

Diplomatic efforts led by Kuwait and backed by Western powers have failed to end the dispute, in which the four states have severed travel and communications with Qatar.

&quot;The four countries are ready for dialogue with Qatar with the condition that it announces its sincere willingness to stop funding terrorism and extremism and its commitment to not interfere in other countries&#39; foreign affairs and respond to the 13 demands,&quot; Bahrain&#39;s foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, told a joint news conference after the meeting.

They announced no new economic sanctions on the Gulf state.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain previously issued a list of 13 demands for Qatar, which include curtailing its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, shutting down the Doha-based Al Jazeera channel, closing a Turkish military base and downgrading its relations with Gulf enemy Iran.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Qatar was not serious in tackling the countries&#39; demands.

&quot;We are ready to talk with Qatar on the implementation of the demands, on the implementation of the principles, if Qatar is serious, but it has been clear that it is not,&quot; he said.

The four countries have also listed &quot;six principles&quot; they want Qatar to adopt.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani dismissed Sunday&#39;s statement from the four countries and said sanctions were violating international laws.

&quot;There isn&#39;t a clear vision (from Manama&#39;s meeting), there is only a stubborn policy from the blockading countries and refusal to admit that these are illegal actions,&quot; Sheikh Mohammed told Al Jazeera TV channel.

Earlier on Sunday, al-Hayat newspaper said, citing unidentified Gulf sources, that the four countries &quot;are expected to impose sanctions that will gradually affect the Qatari economy.&quot;

Saudi Arabia has closed its land border with Qatar, while all four countries have cut air and sea links with Doha, demanding the gas-exporting country take several measures to show it was changing its policies.

Turkey and Iran have stepped in to provide fresh produce, poultry and dairy products to Qatar instead of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with Oman providing alternative ports to those in the UAE.

The four Arab countries added 18 groups and individuals they say are linked to Qatar to their &quot;terrorist&quot; lists last week.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have listed 'six principles' they want Qatar to adopt

The four Arab countries that have cut ties with Qatar said on Sunday they were ready for talks to tackle the dispute if Doha showed willingness to deal with their demands. The foreign ministers of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates met in the Bahraini capital, Manama, to discuss the crisis that has raised tensions across the region. The Saudi-led bloc cut ties with the Gulf state on June 5, accusing it of backing militant groups and cosying up to their arch-foe Iran, allegations Doha denies. Diplomatic efforts led by Kuwait and backed by Western powers have failed to end the dispute, in which the four states have severed travel and communications with Qatar. "The four countries are ready for dialogue with Qatar with the condition that it announces its sincere willingness to stop funding terrorism and extremism and its commitment to not interfere in other countries' foreign affairs and respond to the 13 demands," Bahrain's foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, told a joint news conference after the meeting. They announced no new economic sanctions on the Gulf state. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain previously issued a list of 13 demands for Qatar, which include curtailing its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, shutting down the Doha-based Al Jazeera channel, closing a Turkish military base and downgrading its relations with Gulf enemy Iran. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Qatar was not serious in tackling the countries' demands. "We are ready to talk with Qatar on the implementation of the demands, on the implementation of the principles, if Qatar is serious, but it has been clear that it is not," he said. The four countries have also listed "six principles" they want Qatar to adopt. Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani dismissed Sunday's statement from the four countries and said sanctions were violating international laws. "There isn't a clear vision (from Manama's meeting), there is only a stubborn policy from the blockading countries and refusal to admit that these are illegal actions," Sheikh Mohammed told Al Jazeera TV channel. Earlier on Sunday, al-Hayat newspaper said, citing unidentified Gulf sources, that the four countries "are expected to impose sanctions that will gradually affect the Qatari economy." Saudi Arabia has closed its land border with Qatar, while all four countries have cut air and sea links with Doha, demanding the gas-exporting country take several measures to show it was changing its policies. Turkey and Iran have stepped in to provide fresh produce, poultry and dairy products to Qatar instead of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with Oman providing alternative ports to those in the UAE. The four Arab countries added 18 groups and individuals they say are linked to Qatar to their "terrorist" lists last week.

Four Arab countries ready to talk with Qatar, with conditions

Saudi Arabia and its allies said early Monday they had decided to extend by 48 hours the deadline for Qatar to accept their list of demands to lift a de facto blockade.

With the deadline expiring at midnight Sunday, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt agreed to give Doha an extension to respond positively to their demands.

The move came after a request by the Kuwaiti emir who is acting as mediator in the Gulf crisis, according to a joint statement issued by the official Saudi SPA news agency.

The Kuwaiti government had requested the extension following Qatar&#39;s announcement that it was due to hand over its response to the emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, on Monday.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt announced on June 5 they were severing ties with their Gulf neighbour, sparking the worst diplomatic crisis to hit the region in decades.

They accused Doha of supporting extremism and of being too close to regional arch-rival Iran, which Qatar has strongly denied.

On June 22 they presented a list of 13 demands and gave Doha 10 days to comply.

Riyadh&#39;s demands include ending Doha&#39;s support for the Muslim Brotherhood, the closure of Al-Jazeera television, a downgrade of diplomatic ties with Iran and the shutdown of a Turkish military base in the emirate.

The four countries indicated in their statement that they would study and evaluate Qatar&#39;s response before delivering their own reply to Kuwait.

Doha has so far indicated that it rejects the demands.

&quot;The list of demands is made to be rejected,&quot; Qatar&#39;s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said Saturday in Rome.

&quot;The state of Qatar... is rejecting it as a principle,&quot; he said, adding: &quot;We are willing to engage in providing the proper conditions for further dialogue.&quot;

On June 22, Qatar was?presented with a list of 13 demands and was given 10 days to comply

Saudi Arabia and its allies said early Monday they had decided to extend by 48 hours the deadline for Qatar to accept their list of demands to lift a de facto blockade. With the deadline expiring at midnight Sunday, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt agreed to give Doha an extension to respond positively to their demands. The move came after a request by the Kuwaiti emir who is acting as mediator in the Gulf crisis, according to a joint statement issued by the official Saudi SPA news agency. The Kuwaiti government had requested the extension following Qatar's announcement that it was due to hand over its response to the emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, on Monday. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt announced on June 5 they were severing ties with their Gulf neighbour, sparking the worst diplomatic crisis to hit the region in decades. They accused Doha of supporting extremism and of being too close to regional arch-rival Iran, which Qatar has strongly denied. On June 22 they presented a list of 13 demands and gave Doha 10 days to comply. Riyadh's demands include ending Doha's support for the Muslim Brotherhood, the closure of Al-Jazeera television, a downgrade of diplomatic ties with Iran and the shutdown of a Turkish military base in the emirate. The four countries indicated in their statement that they would study and evaluate Qatar's response before delivering their own reply to Kuwait. Doha has so far indicated that it rejects the demands. "The list of demands is made to be rejected," Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said Saturday in Rome. "The state of Qatar... is rejecting it as a principle," he said, adding: "We are willing to engage in providing the proper conditions for further dialogue."

Saudi Arabia and allies extend Qatar deadline by 48 hours

Four Arab states currently boycotting Qatar for allegedly supporting terorrism have sent the country a lot of 13 demands, according to one of the countres&#39; officials who spoke to Reuters.

The&nbsp;boycott, launched on June 5, entails each of the&nbsp;countries&nbsp;cutting economic, diplomatic and travel ties with Doha The four nations who made the list of demands include&nbsp;Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahain.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The list of demands

Reuters reports that the four nations demand that Qatar:

Close the TV station&nbsp;Al Jazeera.&nbsp;

Reduce&nbsp;their ties with Iran.

Close&nbsp;a Turkish military base in Qatar.&nbsp;

Declare that it is cutting off ties with terrorist, sectarian and ideological organisations like the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State, al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Jabhat Fateh al Sham.&nbsp;

Must also surrender anybody designated as a terorrist on its territory.

Must stop interfering in the four countries&#39; domestic and foreign affairs&nbsp;

Stop&nbsp;giving Qatari nationality to citizens of the four countries

Pay reparations to these countries for any damage or costs incurred over the past few years because of Qatari policies, he added

More, if Qatar does agree to meet this list of demands, the four countries will monitor compliance with monthly reports in the first year, then&nbsp;three-month reports in the following year, then annual reports in the next decade, said an official to Reuters without offering further clarification.

&nbsp;

Qatar&#39;s response

Qatar has denied that they are guilty of what the four Arab nations accuse them of: Funding terorrism, creating regional instability &nbsp;and warming up to revolutionary theocracy Iran.

Earlier this week the foreign minister said Qatar would not negotiate with the four states unless they first lifted their measures. Reuters was not able to reach him for comment.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

What if Qatar says no?

The countries give Doha 10 days to comply, failing which the list becomes &quot;void&quot;, the official said without elaborating. This suggests that the&nbsp;offer to end the dispute in return for meeting the thirteen demands may&nbsp;no longer be on the table.

&nbsp;

How are others responding?

Donald Trump has called Qatar a &quot;high level sponsor of terrorism&quot;, but also offered to mediate to help these parties resolve their differences. Days after Trump plainly said&nbsp;Qatar sponsors terrorism, the US sold them $12 billion in weapons.

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The US accuses Qatar of supporting terrorism and then turns around and sells F-15 fighters, and continues to use the Al Udeid Air Base. Clearly politics is all very well but nothing can halt the business of America. WION brings you this report (WION)
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Turkey has so far taken Qatar&#39;s side. It has launched ships carrying aid in the form of food to Qatar, and yesterday sent a small a small group soldiers and even armoured vehicles. Turkey&#39;s president Tayyip Erdogan met with Saudi Arabia&#39;s leaders in an effort to calm the regional tension.&nbsp;

The concessions are not just numerous but large, and if Qatar agrees their compliance will be monitored closely for ten years

Four Arab states currently boycotting Qatar for allegedly supporting terorrism have sent the country a lot of 13 demands, according to one of the countres' officials who spoke to Reuters. The boycott, launched on June 5, entails each of the countries cutting economic, diplomatic and travel ties with Doha The four nations who made the list of demands include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahain. The list of demands Reuters reports that the four nations demand that Qatar: Close the TV station Al Jazeera. Reduce their ties with Iran. Close a Turkish military base in Qatar. Declare that it is cutting off ties with terrorist, sectarian and ideological organisations like the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State, al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Jabhat Fateh al Sham. Must also surrender anybody designated as a terorrist on its territory. Must stop interfering in the four countries' domestic and foreign affairs Stop giving Qatari nationality to citizens of the four countries Pay reparations to these countries for any damage or costs incurred over the past few years because of Qatari policies, he added More, if Qatar does agree to meet this list of demands, the four countries will monitor compliance with monthly reports in the first year, then three-month reports in the following year, then annual reports in the next decade, said an official to Reuters without offering further clarification. Qatar's response Qatar has denied that they are guilty of what the four Arab nations accuse them of: Funding terorrism, creating regional instability and warming up to revolutionary theocracy Iran. Earlier this week the foreign minister said Qatar would not negotiate with the four states unless they first lifted their measures. Reuters was not able to reach him for comment. What if Qatar says no? The countries give Doha 10 days to comply, failing which the list becomes "void", the official said without elaborating. This suggests that the offer to end the dispute in return for meeting the thirteen demands may no longer be on the table. How are others responding? Donald Trump has called Qatar a "high level sponsor of terrorism", but also offered to mediate to help these parties resolve their differences. Days after Trump plainly said Qatar sponsors terrorism, the US sold them $12 billion in weapons. The US accuses Qatar of supporting terrorism and then turns around and sells F-15 fighters, and continues to use the Al Udeid Air Base. Clearly politics is all very well but nothing can halt the business of America. WION brings you this report (WION) × Turkey has so far taken Qatar's side. It has launched ships carrying aid in the form of food to Qatar, and yesterday sent a small a small group soldiers and even armoured vehicles. Turkey's president Tayyip Erdogan met with Saudi Arabia's leaders in an effort to calm the regional tension.

Arab states send Qatar 13 demands to end crisis, official says

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed developments in Syria and in the row between Qatar and its fellow Arab states on a phone call late on Saturday, Turkish foreign ministry sources said.

The call, held at Tillerson&#39;s request, came after Tillerson on Friday urged Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to ease their blockade of Qatar, saying it was causing unintended humanitarian consequences and affecting the US-led fight against Islamic State.

No further details of the call were immediately available.

Referring to Tillerson&#39;s comments on the blockade, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner in Istanbul on Friday: &quot;I say it should be lifted completely&quot;.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed relations with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and their adversary Iran - allegations Qatar says are baseless. Several countries followed suit.

Erdogan vowed to keep supporting Qatar after his rapid approval of legislation on deploying Turkish troops there. On Saturday, he told Bahrain&#39;s foreign minister that the dispute should be resolved by the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Erdogan on Thursday also approved an accord between Turkey and Qatar on military training cooperation. Both bills were drawn up before the dispute between Qatar and others erupted. Turkey has also pledged to provide food and water supplies to Qatar.

Turkey has maintained good relations with Qatar as well as several of its Gulf Arab neighbours. Turkey and Qatar have both provided support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and backed rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey and fellow NATO member the United States have also been at loggerheads regarding US&nbsp;support the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade-long insurgency on its soil.

The United States said last week it had started supplying arms to the YPG for an assault on the Syrian town of Raqqa, deepening Turkey&#39;s anger. The YPG&#39;s role in the Raqqa campaign has strained ties between the United States and Turkey, which fears growing Kurdish ascendancy along its border.

(Reuters)

The call, held at Tillerson's request, came after he on Friday urged Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to ease their blockade of Qatar

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed developments in Syria and in the row between Qatar and its fellow Arab states on a phone call late on Saturday, Turkish foreign ministry sources said. The call, held at Tillerson's request, came after Tillerson on Friday urged Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to ease their blockade of Qatar, saying it was causing unintended humanitarian consequences and affecting the US-led fight against Islamic State. No further details of the call were immediately available. Referring to Tillerson's comments on the blockade, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner in Istanbul on Friday: "I say it should be lifted completely". Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed relations with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and their adversary Iran - allegations Qatar says are baseless. Several countries followed suit. Erdogan vowed to keep supporting Qatar after his rapid approval of legislation on deploying Turkish troops there. On Saturday, he told Bahrain's foreign minister that the dispute should be resolved by the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Erdogan on Thursday also approved an accord between Turkey and Qatar on military training cooperation. Both bills were drawn up before the dispute between Qatar and others erupted. Turkey has also pledged to provide food and water supplies to Qatar. Turkey has maintained good relations with Qatar as well as several of its Gulf Arab neighbours. Turkey and Qatar have both provided support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and backed rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Turkey and fellow NATO member the United States have also been at loggerheads regarding US support the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade-long insurgency on its soil. The United States said last week it had started supplying arms to the YPG for an assault on the Syrian town of Raqqa, deepening Turkey's anger. The YPG's role in the Raqqa campaign has strained ties between the United States and Turkey, which fears growing Kurdish ascendancy along its border. (Reuters)

US, Turkey discuss Qatar row, Syria on phone call: Sources

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates announced hotlines to help families with Qatari members, their official news agencies reported, after their cutting of diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar led to travel disruption.

The coordinated move suggests the Gulf states are seeking to lessen the humanitarian impact of their June 5 severing of ties with Qatar, in retaliation for what they call its support for terrorism and their regional foe Iran.

Qatar has called the accusations baseless and have described the measures as a &quot;siege&quot; harmful to ordinary people there.

The three countries&#39; news agencies did not make clear what services the hotline would provide.

Amnesty International on June 9 criticised the measures against Qatar as sweeping and arbitrary and said they had split up families and destroyed peoples&#39; livelihoods and education.

Until the political dispute, which has cut air links and banned Qataris from visiting the three countries, Gulf societies enjoyed close travel ties and many families are intermarried.

But authorities in the UAE and Bahrain have made praise for Qatar&#39;s government a criminal offence carrying possible jail time, and some Gulf citizens have worried that the strong rhetoric on Qatar&#39;s foreign policy would divide their peoples.

But in language common to the three countries&#39; announcements, the UAE said it drew a distinction between Qatar&#39;s government and its people.

The hotline showed &quot;the UAE&#39;s commitment to the wellbeing of the brotherly Qatari people as a natural, authentic extension of their brothers in the UAE&quot;, it said.

The three countries' news agencies did not make clear what services the hotline would provide

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates announced hotlines to help families with Qatari members, their official news agencies reported, after their cutting of diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar led to travel disruption. The coordinated move suggests the Gulf states are seeking to lessen the humanitarian impact of their June 5 severing of ties with Qatar, in retaliation for what they call its support for terrorism and their regional foe Iran. Qatar has called the accusations baseless and have described the measures as a "siege" harmful to ordinary people there. The three countries' news agencies did not make clear what services the hotline would provide. Amnesty International on June 9 criticised the measures against Qatar as sweeping and arbitrary and said they had split up families and destroyed peoples' livelihoods and education. Until the political dispute, which has cut air links and banned Qataris from visiting the three countries, Gulf societies enjoyed close travel ties and many families are intermarried. But authorities in the UAE and Bahrain have made praise for Qatar's government a criminal offence carrying possible jail time, and some Gulf citizens have worried that the strong rhetoric on Qatar's foreign policy would divide their peoples. But in language common to the three countries' announcements, the UAE said it drew a distinction between Qatar's government and its people. The hotline showed "the UAE's commitment to the wellbeing of the brotherly Qatari people as a natural, authentic extension of their brothers in the UAE", it said.

Amid diplomatic fallout, Gulf states announce humanitarian hotline for mixed Qatari families

The Maldives said on Monday it was severing diplomatic ties with Qatar, following a coordinated move by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-bahrain-egypt-uae-cut-diplomatic-ties-with-qatar-16432">Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, who accused the Gulf state of supporting terrorism.</a>

&quot;The Maldives took the decision because of its firm opposition to activities that encourage terrorism and extremism,&quot; the government of the Indian Ocean archipelago nation said in a statement.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-shuts-qatars-al-jazeera-amid-ban-crisis-16464">Also Read:&nbsp;Saudi Arabia shuts Qatar&#39;s Al Jazeera amid </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-shuts-qatars-al-jazeera-amid-ban-crisis-16464">ban</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-shuts-qatars-al-jazeera-amid-ban-crisis-16464"> crisis</a>

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Qatar Airways has cancelled flights to Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates today (Others)
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With the crisis escalating, Qatar Airways cancelled flights to Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates today&nbsp;until further notice, the airline said on its website, a day after it had suspended flights to Saudi Arabia.

The airline said passengers holding a confirmed Qatar Airways ticket to any of the four countries between June 5 and July 6 are permitted to rebook their flights up to 30 days after their current departure date.

Qatar Airways said its offices will continue to operate as normal in affected countries until further notice.

On Monday, Egypt Air, Fly Dubai and Bahrain&#39;s Gulf Air joined Etihad and Emirates in saying they would suspend all flights to and from Doha.

Gulf Arab states and Egypt have long resented Qatar&#39;s support for Islamists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood which they regard as a dangerous political enemy.

Saudi Arabia&#39;s King Salman had been due to visit the island chain of 400,000 people on a month-long tour of Asia this year, but postponed the trip due to an outbreak of flu there.

The Maldives government said in March a planned multi-billion dollar, Saudi-funded investment project on one of its atolls would focus on high-end tourism, and rejected opposition claims that the islands would be sold to the government of Saudi Arabia.

(Reuters)

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Saudi Arabia has broken diplomatic relations and all land sea and air contacts with fellow Gulf Arab state Qatar, saying the move was necessary to protect the kingdom from what it described as terrorism and extremism (WION)
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Maldives said it was severing diplomatic ties with Qatar, following a coordinated move by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain

The Maldives said on Monday it was severing diplomatic ties with Qatar, following a coordinated move by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, who accused the Gulf state of supporting terrorism. "The Maldives took the decision because of its firm opposition to activities that encourage terrorism and extremism," the government of the Indian Ocean archipelago nation said in a statement. Also Read: Saudi Arabia shuts Qatar's Al Jazeera amid ban crisis Qatar Airways has cancelled flights to Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates today (Others) × With the crisis escalating, Qatar Airways cancelled flights to Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates today until further notice, the airline said on its website, a day after it had suspended flights to Saudi Arabia. The airline said passengers holding a confirmed Qatar Airways ticket to any of the four countries between June 5 and July 6 are permitted to rebook their flights up to 30 days after their current departure date. Qatar Airways said its offices will continue to operate as normal in affected countries until further notice. On Monday, Egypt Air, Fly Dubai and Bahrain's Gulf Air joined Etihad and Emirates in saying they would suspend all flights to and from Doha. Gulf Arab states and Egypt have long resented Qatar's support for Islamists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood which they regard as a dangerous political enemy. Saudi Arabia's King Salman had been due to visit the island chain of 400,000 people on a month-long tour of Asia this year, but postponed the trip due to an outbreak of flu there. The Maldives government said in March a planned multi-billion dollar, Saudi-funded investment project on one of its atolls would focus on high-end tourism, and rejected opposition claims that the islands would be sold to the government of Saudi Arabia. (Reuters) Saudi Arabia has broken diplomatic relations and all land sea and air contacts with fellow Gulf Arab state Qatar, saying the move was necessary to protect the kingdom from what it described as terrorism and extremism (WION) ×

Maldives backs Saudi Arabia, cuts diplomatic ties with Qatar

Abu Dhabi&#39;s Etihad Airways said on Monday it would suspend flights to Qatar after the United Arab Emirates was among major Gulf states to sever ties with Doha in an unprecedented regional crisis.

Etihad said flights would stop on Tuesday, after the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain said they would cut all air, land and sea links with Qatar within 24 hours.

Etihad, which operates four return flights to Doha daily, said the measure will be in place &quot;until further notice&quot;.

Qatar Airways also announced&nbsp;that it has suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia with immediate affect.

&quot;Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia&quot; until 1159 GMT the same day, a statement from the Doha-based carrier said.

A spokeswoman added that it was unclear if the suspension would be extended.

Other carriers from the three Gulf countries, including Dubai&#39;s Emirates, are likely to announce similar measures.

The unprecedented measures against Doha include ordering Qatari citizens to leave within 14 days and banning citizens of the three Gulf states from travelling to Qatar.

Doha airport, along with airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have become major hubs after Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways seized a significant chunk of transcontinental travel on routes linking Western countries with Asia and Australasia.&nbsp;

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways said it would suspend flights to Qatar, while Qatar Airways has temporarily stopped its flights heading to Saudi Arabia

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways said on Monday it would suspend flights to Qatar after the United Arab Emirates was among major Gulf states to sever ties with Doha in an unprecedented regional crisis. Etihad said flights would stop on Tuesday, after the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain said they would cut all air, land and sea links with Qatar within 24 hours. Etihad, which operates four return flights to Doha daily, said the measure will be in place "until further notice". Qatar Airways also announced that it has suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia with immediate affect. "Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" until 1159 GMT the same day, a statement from the Doha-based carrier said. A spokeswoman added that it was unclear if the suspension would be extended. Other carriers from the three Gulf countries, including Dubai's Emirates, are likely to announce similar measures. The unprecedented measures against Doha include ordering Qatari citizens to leave within 14 days and banning citizens of the three Gulf states from travelling to Qatar. Doha airport, along with airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have become major hubs after Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways seized a significant chunk of transcontinental travel on routes linking Western countries with Asia and Australasia. (AFP)

Etihad, Qatar Airways suspend flight ops to deepen regional ban rift

The confrontation between the Shi&#39;ite citizens and the Sunni monarchy continues in the kingdom of Bahrain. The country&#39;s police forces searched the house of the main Shia spiritual leader, Ayatollah Isa Qassim, in the town of Diraz.&nbsp;

Locals took to the streets to protest the move. According to the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, security forces opened fire against them killing at least one man who showed signs of pellet gun&nbsp;injuries. Further media reports speak about five people killed, but WION could not independently verify the figure.

The police arrested fifty people during the raid, but Qassim was not among them. &nbsp;

The eighty-year-old Ayatollah Isa Qassim is currently facing threats of expulsion from his own country after authorities revoked his citizenship on charges of having links to Iran. He is accused of having diverted towards Tehran funds coming from the Shi&#39;ite community donations. &nbsp;

Qassim&#39;s case is not isolated. The UN high commissioner for human rights Prince Zeid bin Ra&#39;ad Al-Hussain said in a statement that at least &quot;250 people in Bahrain have reportedly been stripped of their citizenship by the government because of their alleged disloyalty to the interests of the Kingdom&quot;. &nbsp;

Ebtasam Alsaegh, from the village of Bani Jamra, close to Diraz, told Reuters that mosques were telling people to take to the streets to protect Qassim.&nbsp;

&quot;The situation is terrifying. ... It&#39;s making people really angry and the young men are taking to the streets. The mosque speakers are calling out &#39;God is Great&#39;, urging people to come out and protect Sheikh Qassim,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

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Attack on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Duraz?src=hash">#Duraz</a> area is still ongoing. Reports of several injuries and one death until this moment<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bahrain?src=hash">#bahrain</a> <a href="https://t.co/HTBEjIez1c">pic.twitter.com/HTBEjIez1c</a>
&mdash; Bahrain Human Rights (@BahrainRights) <a href="https://twitter.com/BahrainRights/status/866961278287454209">May 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

After the forceful dissolution of the main Shia political party Al Wefaq in 2016, the crackdown against Qassim reinforces the Shiite fears of a Sunni-led direct attack against their entire community.&nbsp;

Bahrain, a majority Shia country, is ruled by a Sunni monarchy led by King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa. The nation has witnessed constant disorder&nbsp;and protests since 2011&nbsp;when the Arab spring reached its borders.&nbsp;

People took to the street to demand reforms and, as in many other countries, were heavily repressed. Bahrain&#39;s Shia community had a prominent role in the protests, demanding for more political representation. The police arrested hundreds of people. &nbsp;

This led to the common pattern which characterises the Arab spring: dissent, repression and radicalisation/sectarianism. &nbsp;

Sectarianism in West Asia means Sunni versus Shia, but it often has little to do with religion: it is more of a hegemony struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Both countries use the people&#39;s sincere religious sentiments to expand their political, economic and military influence.&nbsp;

King Hamad accused Iran of being behind the uprising, saying that Tehran was aiming at overthrowing him by force. &nbsp;

Since then, the necessity of stemming an eventual Iranian influence has been the justification for any act of repression, which the monarchy repeatedly denies.&nbsp;

Little moves in the Arabic peninsula without Saudi&#39;s knowledge or intervention and during the 2011 protests, the Gulf Cooperation Council responded to King al-Khalifa&#39;s call and sent more than a thousand soldiers, the majority of which were from Saudi&#39;s ranks.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, the Saudi Press Agency quoted an official Saudi foreign affair spokesperson affirming his country&#39;s support for the measures taken by the kingdom of Bahrain in order to maintain security, including the latest measures taken in Diraz. &nbsp;

Iran, as usual, has never openly rejected Bahrain&#39;s accusations and keeps acting in an ambiguous manner. &nbsp;

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman condemned the raid in Diraz and said that the Bahraini government &quot;will be&nbsp;responsible for all consequences&quot;. He did not make clear how. &nbsp;

Their statements imply that they are keeping an eye on Bahrain, but then Tehran denies officially any direct involvement. This resembles the strategy Iran is applying in the war in Yemen.&nbsp;

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<h5>Despite its small dimension, Bahrain enjoys a strategic location in the Persian Gulf and it is a solid US ally since 1971. The US Fifth Fleet, which overlooks operations in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, has its headquarters in the country.&nbsp;</h5>
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&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump met with King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa during his visit in Saudi Arabia, reassuring him about his intentions. &nbsp;

&quot;Our countries have a wonderful relationship together, but there has been a little strain, but there won&#39;t be strain with this administration,&quot; said Trump. &quot;We&#39;re going to have a very, very long-term relationship. I look forward to it very much - many of the same things in common.&quot;&nbsp;

In a departure from Obama&#39;s policies, the US secretary of state Rex Tillerson lifted all human-rights based restrictions against Bahrain thus giving a green light to $5 billion sale of 19 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircrafts.&nbsp;

This is, once again, a clear sign of the US intention to keep sitting on Saudi Arabia&#39;s side in an anti-Iran oriented West Asia policy which risks to further destabilise the region.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Bahraini police forces raid Shi'ite leader's house reigniting political rivalries in the West Asian region driven by sectarianism

The confrontation between the Shi'ite citizens and the Sunni monarchy continues in the kingdom of Bahrain. The country's police forces searched the house of the main Shia spiritual leader, Ayatollah Isa Qassim, in the town of Diraz. Locals took to the streets to protest the move. According to the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, security forces opened fire against them killing at least one man who showed signs of pellet gun injuries. Further media reports speak about five people killed, but WION could not independently verify the figure. The police arrested fifty people during the raid, but Qassim was not among them. The eighty-year-old Ayatollah Isa Qassim is currently facing threats of expulsion from his own country after authorities revoked his citizenship on charges of having links to Iran. He is accused of having diverted towards Tehran funds coming from the Shi'ite community donations. Qassim's case is not isolated. The UN high commissioner for human rights Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad Al-Hussain said in a statement that at least "250 people in Bahrain have reportedly been stripped of their citizenship by the government because of their alleged disloyalty to the interests of the Kingdom". Ebtasam Alsaegh, from the village of Bani Jamra, close to Diraz, told Reuters that mosques were telling people to take to the streets to protect Qassim. "The situation is terrifying. ... It's making people really angry and the young men are taking to the streets. The mosque speakers are calling out 'God is Great', urging people to come out and protect Sheikh Qassim," she said. Attack on #Duraz area is still ongoing. Reports of several injuries and one death until this moment#bahrain pic.twitter.com/HTBEjIez1c — Bahrain Human Rights (@BahrainRights) May 23, 2017 × After the forceful dissolution of the main Shia political party Al Wefaq in 2016, the crackdown against Qassim reinforces the Shiite fears of a Sunni-led direct attack against their entire community. Bahrain, a majority Shia country, is ruled by a Sunni monarchy led by King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa. The nation has witnessed constant disorder and protests since 2011 when the Arab spring reached its borders. People took to the street to demand reforms and, as in many other countries, were heavily repressed. Bahrain's Shia community had a prominent role in the protests, demanding for more political representation. The police arrested hundreds of people. This led to the common pattern which characterises the Arab spring: dissent, repression and radicalisation/sectarianism. Sectarianism in West Asia means Sunni versus Shia, but it often has little to do with religion: it is more of a hegemony struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Both countries use the people's sincere religious sentiments to expand their political, economic and military influence. King Hamad accused Iran of being behind the uprising, saying that Tehran was aiming at overthrowing him by force. Since then, the necessity of stemming an eventual Iranian influence has been the justification for any act of repression, which the monarchy repeatedly denies. Little moves in the Arabic peninsula without Saudi's knowledge or intervention and during the 2011 protests, the Gulf Cooperation Council responded to King al-Khalifa's call and sent more than a thousand soldiers, the majority of which were from Saudi's ranks. On Wednesday, the Saudi Press Agency quoted an official Saudi foreign affair spokesperson affirming his country's support for the measures taken by the kingdom of Bahrain in order to maintain security, including the latest measures taken in Diraz. Iran, as usual, has never openly rejected Bahrain's accusations and keeps acting in an ambiguous manner. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman condemned the raid in Diraz and said that the Bahraini government "will be responsible for all consequences". He did not make clear how. Their statements imply that they are keeping an eye on Bahrain, but then Tehran denies officially any direct involvement. This resembles the strategy Iran is applying in the war in Yemen. Despite its small dimension, Bahrain enjoys a strategic location in the Persian Gulf and it is a solid US ally since 1971. The US Fifth Fleet, which overlooks operations in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, has its headquarters in the country. × US President Donald Trump met with King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa during his visit in Saudi Arabia, reassuring him about his intentions. "Our countries have a wonderful relationship together, but there has been a little strain, but there won't be strain with this administration," said Trump. "We're going to have a very, very long-term relationship. I look forward to it very much - many of the same things in common." In a departure from Obama's policies, the US secretary of state Rex Tillerson lifted all human-rights based restrictions against Bahrain thus giving a green light to $5 billion sale of 19 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircrafts. This is, once again, a clear sign of the US intention to keep sitting on Saudi Arabia's side in an anti-Iran oriented West Asia policy which risks to further destabilise the region. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Bahrain: Security forces fire pellet, kill at least one

Teenager&nbsp;Ruth&nbsp;Jebet&nbsp;won Bahrain&#39;s first ever Olympic gold medal on Monday, blowing away the competition in the women&#39;s 3,000 metres steeplechase but narrowly missing out on the world record.

The 19-year-old stormed into the lead after a few laps and set a blistering pace to win in eight minutes 59.75 seconds, shy of the 8:58.81 world record set by Russia&#39;s Gulnara Galkina at the 2008 Beijing Games.

&quot;I admit it was too easy for me but nobody told me about the record. I wanted the gold medal,&quot; Jebet&nbsp;said.

Galkina and Kenyan-born&nbsp;Jebet, who was the world junior champion, are the only two women to have run a sub-nine minute time.

Jebet&nbsp;is the second Kenyan-born runner to win a medal at Rio Games, following Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa&#39;s silver in the women&#39;s marathon on Sunday.

A host of athletes from Kenya&#39;s running heartlands have switched allegiance to compete for Middle Eastern countries over the past decade, in part due to the dearth of support and financial rewards for aspiring runners in the East African nation.

Kenya&#39;s Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi, who won the world title in Beijing last year, was almost 50 metres behind&nbsp;Jebet&nbsp;in second place.

&quot;I am so happy,&quot; said Jepkemoi. &quot;The last two laps were really hard. I just tried to stay strong and see if I could catch her.&quot;

American Emma Coburn won United States&#39; first ever medal in the steeplechase as she grabbed bronze and a new national record.

&quot;I feel very honoured,&quot; Coburn said. 
 
(Reuters)

Kenyan-born teenager finished almost 50 metres ahead of second-placed athlete but narrowly missed out on the world record

Teenager Ruth Jebet won Bahrain's first ever Olympic gold medal on Monday, blowing away the competition in the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase but narrowly missing out on the world record. The 19-year-old stormed into the lead after a few laps and set a blistering pace to win in eight minutes 59.75 seconds, shy of the 8:58.81 world record set by Russia's Gulnara Galkina at the 2008 Beijing Games. "I admit it was too easy for me but nobody told me about the record. I wanted the gold medal," Jebet said. Galkina and Kenyan-born Jebet, who was the world junior champion, are the only two women to have run a sub-nine minute time. Jebet is the second Kenyan-born runner to win a medal at Rio Games, following Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa's silver in the women's marathon on Sunday. A host of athletes from Kenya's running heartlands have switched allegiance to compete for Middle Eastern countries over the past decade, in part due to the dearth of support and financial rewards for aspiring runners in the East African nation. Kenya's Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi, who won the world title in Beijing last year, was almost 50 metres behind Jebet in second place. "I am so happy," said Jepkemoi. "The last two laps were really hard. I just tried to stay strong and see if I could catch her." American Emma Coburn won United States' first ever medal in the steeplechase as she grabbed bronze and a new national record. "I feel very honoured," Coburn said. (Reuters)

Rio Olympics 2016: Ruth Jebet glides through 3,000m steeplechase to win maiden gold for Bahrain

After a border official stopped him from leaving Bahrain last week, citing a security order, human rights lawyer Mohammed al-Tajer said he checked with the departments in charge of passports and investigations and was told no travel ban was in place. 
 
The 50-year-old lawyer, who had been planning a short visit to Saudi Arabia, was not surprised. He had joined a growing list of people confined to their country as part of what rights groups describe as an attempt to crush the opposition. 
 
Tajer said some people found out when they headed to the airport last month to fly to Geneva to attend a meeting by the UN Human Rights Council. Others were informed when they tried to cross the King Fahd Causeway to Saudi Arabia last week. 
 
&quot;There are 17 of us -- some of them are not rights activists or well known figures,&quot; Tajer, who has defended prominent Bahraini opposition activists, told Reuters. 
 
19 people prevented from travelling abroad: Human rights group&nbsp; 
 
Amnesty International says at least 19 people, including doctors, lawyers, academics and journalists, have been prevented from travelling abroad in the past month.&nbsp; 
 
Bahrain&#39;s Sunni-led government, mainly drawn from the ruling al-Khalifa family, has been rattled by opposition calls for major reforms, including a cabinet chosen from an elected parliament, and a deep financial crisis that has forced it to cut subsidies and increase basic prices. 
 
The crackdown also follows a deepening diplomatic row between Bahrain`s main Sunni backer, Saudi Arabia, and Shi`ite power Iran. 
 
The rift has grown wider since Iranian demonstrators, angry at the execution of a prominent Shi`ite Muslim cleric in January, ransacked Saudi missions prompting Riyadh and Manama to sever diplomatic ties with Tehran. 
 
Government maintains it does not tolerate human rights violations&nbsp; 
 
Bahraini authorities had no immediate comment on the travel ban in general or on Tajer&#39;s situation. The government says it does not tolerate human rights violations and has established bodies to receive complaints. 
 
Bahrain&#39;s National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) said it had &quot;noted with concern&quot; the increased number of cases of travel bans and called for them to stop. 
 
&quot;The NIHR notes that decision to ban travel without a judicial order obstructs the constitutional of movement and travel, which contradicts the kingdom`s international and regional commitments related to human rights,&quot; it said in a statement to Reuters. 
 
Shaken by bouts of unrest since Arab Spring-style mass protests in 2011, Western-allied Bahrain, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based, has explained a crackdown on opponents in recent weeks as &quot;correcting&quot; the political discourse. 
 
Since June, Bahraini authorities have closed down the main Shi`ite opposition group al-Wefaq, revoked the citizenship of top Shi`ite Muslim cleric Ayatollah Isa Qassim and re-arrested prominent rights campaigner Nabeel Rajab for anti-government Tweets. A court has also more than doubled the prison sentence on al-Wefaq leader Sheikh Ali Salman. 
 
&#39;Bahrain &nbsp;has entered a deeply worrying new phase of clampdown&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Rights groups have documented the travel bans. 
 
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) said on July 4 it had recorded at least 14 cases of rights campaigners and civil society activists having been banned from travel in June. 
 
Amnesty International said it had recorded 21 cases since 2015, 19 of them in the past month alone. 
 
&quot;Preventing human rights defenders, journalists and former prisoners of conscience from leaving their own country is just one of a long list of repressive tactics the Bahraini authorities have sought to punish and muzzle its critics in recent weeks,&rdquo; said Ariel Plotkin, Amnesty International&rsquo;s Bahrain campaigner. 
 
&quot;Bahrain has entered a deeply worrying new phase of clampdown on human rights, instilling fear on civil society,&quot; he added.&nbsp; 
 
Apart from Tajer, they include Sharaf al-Mousawi, the head of Bahrain`s branch of Transparency International, Rula al-Saffar, president of the Bahrain Nursing Society and brain surgeon Taha al-Durazi and his wife.&nbsp; 
 
On July 7, Bahraini journalist and activist Ahmed Radhi was banned from boarding a flight from Manama to Oman, without any prior notification of any ban imposed on him. 
 
&quot;My name is not on any list of banned people and I have a certificate of good conduct from the investigations department, yet I am banned from travel,&quot; Radhi said, according to his Twitter account. 
 
Tajer said it was normal in Bahrain for people to be punished with measures such as travel bans without an official order being presented by any party. 
 
&quot;Don&#39;t be astonished. Many things that cannot be explained happen,&quot; Taker said. &quot;In Bahrain, everything is possible, especially against people who are not viewed with satisfaction by the government,&quot; he added.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

'Preventing human rights defenders, journalists from leaving their own country is just one of a long list of repressive tactics'

After a border official stopped him from leaving Bahrain last week, citing a security order, human rights lawyer Mohammed al-Tajer said he checked with the departments in charge of passports and investigations and was told no travel ban was in place. The 50-year-old lawyer, who had been planning a short visit to Saudi Arabia, was not surprised. He had joined a growing list of people confined to their country as part of what rights groups describe as an attempt to crush the opposition. Tajer said some people found out when they headed to the airport last month to fly to Geneva to attend a meeting by the UN Human Rights Council. Others were informed when they tried to cross the King Fahd Causeway to Saudi Arabia last week. "There are 17 of us -- some of them are not rights activists or well known figures," Tajer, who has defended prominent Bahraini opposition activists, told Reuters. 19 people prevented from travelling abroad: Human rights group Amnesty International says at least 19 people, including doctors, lawyers, academics and journalists, have been prevented from travelling abroad in the past month. Bahrain's Sunni-led government, mainly drawn from the ruling al-Khalifa family, has been rattled by opposition calls for major reforms, including a cabinet chosen from an elected parliament, and a deep financial crisis that has forced it to cut subsidies and increase basic prices. The crackdown also follows a deepening diplomatic row between Bahrain`s main Sunni backer, Saudi Arabia, and Shi`ite power Iran. The rift has grown wider since Iranian demonstrators, angry at the execution of a prominent Shi`ite Muslim cleric in January, ransacked Saudi missions prompting Riyadh and Manama to sever diplomatic ties with Tehran. Government maintains it does not tolerate human rights violations Bahraini authorities had no immediate comment on the travel ban in general or on Tajer's situation. The government says it does not tolerate human rights violations and has established bodies to receive complaints. Bahrain's National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) said it had "noted with concern" the increased number of cases of travel bans and called for them to stop. "The NIHR notes that decision to ban travel without a judicial order obstructs the constitutional of movement and travel, which contradicts the kingdom`s international and regional commitments related to human rights," it said in a statement to Reuters. Shaken by bouts of unrest since Arab Spring-style mass protests in 2011, Western-allied Bahrain, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based, has explained a crackdown on opponents in recent weeks as "correcting" the political discourse. Since June, Bahraini authorities have closed down the main Shi`ite opposition group al-Wefaq, revoked the citizenship of top Shi`ite Muslim cleric Ayatollah Isa Qassim and re-arrested prominent rights campaigner Nabeel Rajab for anti-government Tweets. A court has also more than doubled the prison sentence on al-Wefaq leader Sheikh Ali Salman. 'Bahrain has entered a deeply worrying new phase of clampdown' Rights groups have documented the travel bans. The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) said on July 4 it had recorded at least 14 cases of rights campaigners and civil society activists having been banned from travel in June. Amnesty International said it had recorded 21 cases since 2015, 19 of them in the past month alone. "Preventing human rights defenders, journalists and former prisoners of conscience from leaving their own country is just one of a long list of repressive tactics the Bahraini authorities have sought to punish and muzzle its critics in recent weeks,” said Ariel Plotkin, Amnesty International’s Bahrain campaigner. "Bahrain has entered a deeply worrying new phase of clampdown on human rights, instilling fear on civil society," he added. Apart from Tajer, they include Sharaf al-Mousawi, the head of Bahrain`s branch of Transparency International, Rula al-Saffar, president of the Bahrain Nursing Society and brain surgeon Taha al-Durazi and his wife. On July 7, Bahraini journalist and activist Ahmed Radhi was banned from boarding a flight from Manama to Oman, without any prior notification of any ban imposed on him. "My name is not on any list of banned people and I have a certificate of good conduct from the investigations department, yet I am banned from travel," Radhi said, according to his Twitter account. Tajer said it was normal in Bahrain for people to be punished with measures such as travel bans without an official order being presented by any party. "Don't be astonished. Many things that cannot be explained happen," Taker said. "In Bahrain, everything is possible, especially against people who are not viewed with satisfaction by the government," he added. (Reuters)

Travel clampdown in Bahrain 'attempt to crush opposition', rights groups claim

The trial in Bahrain of prominent rights activist Nabeel Rajab was postponed until August 2 today and a request for his release rejected, his lawyer said, hours after 26 rights groups jointly called for him to be freed. 
 
Bahrain has made no public statements on Rajab&#39;s case, but his lawyer has said charges against him relate to anti-government tweets he allegedly published last year, including one accusing the security forces of torturing detainees. 
 
Rights group term Najab&#39;s arrest &#39;escalating crackdown on opposition&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Rajab was a leading figure in a 2011 pro-democracy uprising led by Bahrain&#39;s Shi&#39;ite Muslim majority, and he has been repeatedly detained. 
 
His latest arrest comes during what rights groups say is an escalating crackdown on Bahrain&#39;s opposition. 
 
The trial was postponed until August 2 and a request for his release by the defence was turned down, his lawyer Mohammed al-Jishi wrote on Twitter without elaborating. 
 
Violence between Shi&#39;ites and security forces continues since 2011 uprising&nbsp; 
 
Shi&#39;ites in Bahrain complain of discrimination from the Sunni-led government, which denies this. 
 
In recent weeks, a court shut down a main Shi&#39;ite opposition society and the interior ministry stripped the spiritual leader of the island&#39;s Shi&#39;ites of his citizenship. 
 
Violence between Shi&#39;ites and security forces has continued on the island since the 2011 uprising was put down with the help of Saudi Arabia. 
 
Hours before Rajab&#39;s hearing was due to take place, 26 human rights groups put out a joint statement. 
 
&quot;We remind the Bahraini government of its obligation to preserve the right to free expression,&quot; the campaign groups, including Human Rights First and Physicians for Human Rights, said. 
 
&quot;We reiterate repeated calls by United Nations officials, and others in the international community, to immediately release Rajab,&quot; they added. 
 
Government officials deny human rights abuse&nbsp; 
 
Rajab was taken to hospital for a day late last month for what his supporters said was an irregular heart beat, but a spokesman for the prisons authority described his condition as &quot;normal,&quot; in a statement e-mailed to Reuters. 
 
Bahraini rights groups said authorities on Monday freed Ibrahim Sharif, former head of the secular Waad party, after he served a year in jail for what state news agency BNA said was publicising &quot;hatred of the regime&quot;. 
 
Government officials deny systematic abuses of human rights and have accused the opposition of stirring sectarian hatred in the kingdom and serving the interests of their rival, Shi&#39;ite Iran. 
 
(Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

Rajab's lawyer has said charges against him relate to anti-government tweets he allegedly published last year

The trial in Bahrain of prominent rights activist Nabeel Rajab was postponed until August 2 today and a request for his release rejected, his lawyer said, hours after 26 rights groups jointly called for him to be freed. Bahrain has made no public statements on Rajab's case, but his lawyer has said charges against him relate to anti-government tweets he allegedly published last year, including one accusing the security forces of torturing detainees. Rights group term Najab's arrest 'escalating crackdown on opposition' Rajab was a leading figure in a 2011 pro-democracy uprising led by Bahrain's Shi'ite Muslim majority, and he has been repeatedly detained. His latest arrest comes during what rights groups say is an escalating crackdown on Bahrain's opposition. The trial was postponed until August 2 and a request for his release by the defence was turned down, his lawyer Mohammed al-Jishi wrote on Twitter without elaborating. Violence between Shi'ites and security forces continues since 2011 uprising Shi'ites in Bahrain complain of discrimination from the Sunni-led government, which denies this. In recent weeks, a court shut down a main Shi'ite opposition society and the interior ministry stripped the spiritual leader of the island's Shi'ites of his citizenship. Violence between Shi'ites and security forces has continued on the island since the 2011 uprising was put down with the help of Saudi Arabia. Hours before Rajab's hearing was due to take place, 26 human rights groups put out a joint statement. "We remind the Bahraini government of its obligation to preserve the right to free expression," the campaign groups, including Human Rights First and Physicians for Human Rights, said. "We reiterate repeated calls by United Nations officials, and others in the international community, to immediately release Rajab," they added. Government officials deny human rights abuse Rajab was taken to hospital for a day late last month for what his supporters said was an irregular heart beat, but a spokesman for the prisons authority described his condition as "normal," in a statement e-mailed to Reuters. Bahraini rights groups said authorities on Monday freed Ibrahim Sharif, former head of the secular Waad party, after he served a year in jail for what state news agency BNA said was publicising "hatred of the regime". Government officials deny systematic abuses of human rights and have accused the opposition of stirring sectarian hatred in the kingdom and serving the interests of their rival, Shi'ite Iran. (Reuters)

Bahrain activist Nabeel Rajab's trial postponed till August while clamour for his release rises

A Bahraini woman died and three children sustained minor injuries when their car was hit by a bomb blast on Thursday that police said was carried out by &quot;terrorists&quot; in southern Bahrain. 
 
Shrapnel hit the car the woman was in, the police said, and security forces were investigating the scene of the attack in the village of East Eker, south of Bahrain&#39;s capital, Manama, according to an interior ministry statement. 
 
&quot;A terrorist act on Thursday claimed the life of a woman and injured three children who were with her in a car that was hit by shrapnel after a bomb exploded,&quot; the director general of Manama&#39;s police directorate was quoted as saying by state media. 
 
Sporadic violence and bomb attacks largely aimed at Bahraini security forces have become the norm since mass, Shi&#39;ite-led pro-democracy protests were put down by the government in 2011. 
 
In July, 2015 two policemen in the Shi&#39;ite village of Sitra were killed in a bomb blast that authorities said involved the use of explosives smuggled from Iran. 
 
Tehran denies interference in Bahrain but openly supports opposition groups seeking greater rights for the Shi&#39;ite majority. 
 
The human rights record of Bahrain has been criticised by the United States, Britain and rights groups. 
 
On Thursday, seven US senators said in a letter to secretary of state John Kerry the United States should be prepared to reconsider arms sales, if a recent crackdown on opposition continues. 
 
In June, authorities closed down the main Shi&#39;ite opposition society, detained a prominent rights campaigner Nabeel Rajab and stripped the spiritual leader of the island&#39;s Shi&#39;ite Muslim majority of his citizenship. 
 
Bahrain, which hosts the United States&#39; Fifth Fleet, is seen by Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdoms as a strategic bulwark against Iranian influence. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Sporadic violence and bomb attacks aimed at security forces have become the norm since Shi'ite-led pro-democracy protests were put down

A Bahraini woman died and three children sustained minor injuries when their car was hit by a bomb blast on Thursday that police said was carried out by "terrorists" in southern Bahrain. Shrapnel hit the car the woman was in, the police said, and security forces were investigating the scene of the attack in the village of East Eker, south of Bahrain's capital, Manama, according to an interior ministry statement. "A terrorist act on Thursday claimed the life of a woman and injured three children who were with her in a car that was hit by shrapnel after a bomb exploded," the director general of Manama's police directorate was quoted as saying by state media. Sporadic violence and bomb attacks largely aimed at Bahraini security forces have become the norm since mass, Shi'ite-led pro-democracy protests were put down by the government in 2011. In July, 2015 two policemen in the Shi'ite village of Sitra were killed in a bomb blast that authorities said involved the use of explosives smuggled from Iran. Tehran denies interference in Bahrain but openly supports opposition groups seeking greater rights for the Shi'ite majority. The human rights record of Bahrain has been criticised by the United States, Britain and rights groups. On Thursday, seven US senators said in a letter to secretary of state John Kerry the United States should be prepared to reconsider arms sales, if a recent crackdown on opposition continues. In June, authorities closed down the main Shi'ite opposition society, detained a prominent rights campaigner Nabeel Rajab and stripped the spiritual leader of the island's Shi'ite Muslim majority of his citizenship. Bahrain, which hosts the United States' Fifth Fleet, is seen by Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdoms as a strategic bulwark against Iranian influence. (Reuters)

Woman dies, children hurt as shrapnel from bomb hits car

Iran&#39;s supreme leader has blasted as &quot;foolishness&quot; a decision by Bahrain&#39;s leaders to strip a top Shi&#39;ite Muslim cleric of his citizenship, and said it could provoke violence from Shi&#39;ites, who make up the majority in the Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdom. 
 
The speech by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, carried by state media, came after Bahrain&#39;s Sunni authorities stepped up measures against the island&#39;s Shi&#39;ites and stripped their spiritual leader, Ayatollah Isa Qassim, of his citizenship. 
 
&quot;This is blatant foolishness and insanity. When he still could address the Bahraini people, Sheikh Isa Qassim... would advise against radical and armed actions,&quot; Khamenei said in remarks carried by state television today. 
 
&quot;Attacking Sheikh Isa Qassim means removing all obstacles blocking heroic Bahraini youths from attacking the regime.&quot; 
 
Bahrain in 2011 put down an uprising led by Shi&#39;ites demanding reforms. Since then, there have been almost daily skirmishes between Shi&#39;ite youths and security forces, as well as several bomb attacks. 
 
Bahrain accuses Iran of fomenting unrest among its Shi&#39;ite population and providing financial and material support, a charge Tehran denies. 
 
In a series of moves over the past three weeks, authorities also closed down the main Shi&#39;ite opposition al-Wefaq Islamic Society, doubled the prison sentence on the group&#39;s leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, and detained prominent rights campaigner Nabeel Rajab. 
 
(Reuters)

The island's Sunni authorities stepped up measures against the Shi'ite majority and stripped their spiritual leader of his citizenship

Iran's supreme leader has blasted as "foolishness" a decision by Bahrain's leaders to strip a top Shi'ite Muslim cleric of his citizenship, and said it could provoke violence from Shi'ites, who make up the majority in the Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdom. The speech by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, carried by state media, came after Bahrain's Sunni authorities stepped up measures against the island's Shi'ites and stripped their spiritual leader, Ayatollah Isa Qassim, of his citizenship. "This is blatant foolishness and insanity. When he still could address the Bahraini people, Sheikh Isa Qassim... would advise against radical and armed actions," Khamenei said in remarks carried by state television today. "Attacking Sheikh Isa Qassim means removing all obstacles blocking heroic Bahraini youths from attacking the regime." Bahrain in 2011 put down an uprising led by Shi'ites demanding reforms. Since then, there have been almost daily skirmishes between Shi'ite youths and security forces, as well as several bomb attacks. Bahrain accuses Iran of fomenting unrest among its Shi'ite population and providing financial and material support, a charge Tehran denies. In a series of moves over the past three weeks, authorities also closed down the main Shi'ite opposition al-Wefaq Islamic Society, doubled the prison sentence on the group's leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, and detained prominent rights campaigner Nabeel Rajab. (Reuters)

Bahrain's move against top Shia cleric risks violence, says Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei

A Bahrainian appeals court today sentenced the country`s top opposition leader Shaikh Ali Salman to nine years in prison. 
 
The verdict for Salman, secretary general of the main opposition group, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, was announced at a hearing attended by rights activists, diplomats and other officials, amid tight security, Xinhua news agency reported. 
 
&quot;Salman has been sentenced for a nine-year jail term, which the society feels is unacceptable,&quot; Al Wefaq said in a statement following the court verdict. 
 
He was last sentenced in 2015 to four years in prison for spreading sectarianism and inciting others to break the law, among other charges.

Opposition leader Shaikh Ali Salman sentenced nine years in prison

A Bahrainian appeals court today sentenced the country`s top opposition leader Shaikh Ali Salman to nine years in prison. The verdict for Salman, secretary general of the main opposition group, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, was announced at a hearing attended by rights activists, diplomats and other officials, amid tight security, Xinhua news agency reported. "Salman has been sentenced for a nine-year jail term, which the society feels is unacceptable," Al Wefaq said in a statement following the court verdict. He was last sentenced in 2015 to four years in prison for spreading sectarianism and inciting others to break the law, among other charges.

Bahrain''s opposition leader sentenced to 9 years in prison

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