Brookings Institution think-tank placed its president Retired Marine General John Allen on administrative leave amid FBI probing his role in an illegal lobbying campaign on behalf of Qatar.

The latest move comes after the FBI recently seized Allen’s electronic data as part of the probe to find whether the retired four-star general helped Qatar influence US policy in the 2017 diplomatic crisis which erupted between the monarchy and its neighbours, AP news agency reported citing new court filings.

Allen has not been charged with any crimes and had previously denied any wrongdoing.

In an email Wednesday, Brookings told staffers that the Washington-based think tank is not under any investigation and that institution’s executive vice president, Ted Gayer, will serve as the acting president.

“We have every confidence in the Brookings team’s ability to remain focused on delivering quality, independence, and impact,” AP quoted the email as saying.

The FBI in the affidavit has claimed to have found “substantial evidence” that Allen knowingly broke a foreign lobbying law and made false statements and withheld “incriminating” documents. The US federal agency has now sought search a warrant.

In the affidavit, it has been claimed that the Brookings Institution’s chief travelled to Qatar and met with the country’s top officials to offer them advice on how to influence US policy, as well as promote Qatar’s point of view to top White House officials and members of Congress.

Allen, who was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution prior to becoming president, used his official email account at the think tank for some of his Qatar-related communications, the affidavit says.

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Qatar has long been one of Brookings’ biggest financial backers, though the institution says it has recently stopped taking Qatari funding.

The 2017 diplomatic crisis pertained to Arab countries like Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain&nbsp;severing ties with Qatar over its alleged support for terrorism.

Qatar refused to comply with an initial list of 13 demands, saying it would not agree to any measures that threatened its sovereignty or violated international law.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Brookings Institution think-tank placed its president Retired Marine General John Allen on administrative leave amid FBI probing his role in an illegal lobbying campaign on behalf of Qatar.

Brookings Institution think-tank placed its president Retired Marine General John Allen on administrative leave amid FBI probing his role in an illegal lobbying campaign on behalf of Qatar. The latest move comes after the FBI recently seized Allen’s electronic data as part of the probe to find whether the retired four-star general helped Qatar influence US policy in the 2017 diplomatic crisis which erupted between the monarchy and its neighbours, AP news agency reported citing new court filings. Allen has not been charged with any crimes and had previously denied any wrongdoing. In an email Wednesday, Brookings told staffers that the Washington-based think tank is not under any investigation and that institution’s executive vice president, Ted Gayer, will serve as the acting president. “We have every confidence in the Brookings team’s ability to remain focused on delivering quality, independence, and impact,” AP quoted the email as saying. The FBI in the affidavit has claimed to have found “substantial evidence” that Allen knowingly broke a foreign lobbying law and made false statements and withheld “incriminating” documents. The US federal agency has now sought search a warrant. In the affidavit, it has been claimed that the Brookings Institution’s chief travelled to Qatar and met with the country’s top officials to offer them advice on how to influence US policy, as well as promote Qatar’s point of view to top White House officials and members of Congress. Allen, who was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution prior to becoming president, used his official email account at the think tank for some of his Qatar-related communications, the affidavit says. Also read | US military aircraft crashes in California desert, 4 killed, 1 presumed dead Qatar has long been one of Brookings’ biggest financial backers, though the institution says it has recently stopped taking Qatari funding. The 2017 diplomatic crisis pertained to Arab countries like Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain severing ties with Qatar over its alleged support for terrorism. Qatar refused to comply with an initial list of 13 demands, saying it would not agree to any measures that threatened its sovereignty or violated international law. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Brookings Institution president sent on leave amid FBI probe over Qatar lobbying

Iran has sent five planes of vegetables to Qatar, Iran&#39;s national carrier told AFP on Sunday, days after Gulf countries cut off air and other transport links to the emirate.

&quot;So far five planes carrying... vegetables have been sent to Qatar, each carrying around 90 tonnes of cargo, while another plane will be sent today,&quot; Iran Air spokesman Shahrokh Noushabadi said.

&quot;We will continue deliveries as long as there is demand&quot; from Qatar, Noushabadi added, without mentioning if these deliveries were exports or aid.

Three ships loaded with 350 tonnes of fruit and vegetables were also set to leave an Iranian port for Qatar, the Tasnim news agency quoted a local official as saying.&nbsp;

The port of Dayyer is Iran&#39;s closest port to Qatar.

In the biggest diplomatic crisis in the region in years, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, plus Egypt and Yemen, on Monday announced they were cutting all ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism.

Iran has urged Qatar and neighbouring Gulf countries to engage in dialogue to resolve their dispute.

The Islamic republic has also opened its airspace to about 100 more Qatari flights a day, after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates banned Qatari planes from their airspace.

The new flights have increased Iranian air traffic by 17 per cent, the official state news agency has reported.

(AFP)

Three ships loaded with 350 tonnes of fruit and vegetables were also set to leave an Iranian port for Qatar, media reports suggest

Iran has sent five planes of vegetables to Qatar, Iran's national carrier told AFP on Sunday, days after Gulf countries cut off air and other transport links to the emirate. "So far five planes carrying... vegetables have been sent to Qatar, each carrying around 90 tonnes of cargo, while another plane will be sent today," Iran Air spokesman Shahrokh Noushabadi said. "We will continue deliveries as long as there is demand" from Qatar, Noushabadi added, without mentioning if these deliveries were exports or aid. Three ships loaded with 350 tonnes of fruit and vegetables were also set to leave an Iranian port for Qatar, the Tasnim news agency quoted a local official as saying. The port of Dayyer is Iran's closest port to Qatar. In the biggest diplomatic crisis in the region in years, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, plus Egypt and Yemen, on Monday announced they were cutting all ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism. Iran has urged Qatar and neighbouring Gulf countries to engage in dialogue to resolve their dispute. The Islamic republic has also opened its airspace to about 100 more Qatari flights a day, after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates banned Qatari planes from their airspace. The new flights have increased Iranian air traffic by 17 per cent, the official state news agency has reported. (AFP)

Iran sends five planes of vegetables to Qatar as blockade saga rumbles on

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Brookings Institution president sent on leave amid FBI probe over Qatar lobbying

Iran sends five planes of vegetables to Qatar as blockade saga rumbles on