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Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain said Wednesday they were withdrawing their ambassadors from Qatar for breaching a security agreement among members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The three countries said in a joint statement that their move was taken after they had failed to commit Qatar to implementing a security pact signed by its Emir Tamim bin Hamad in the Saudi capital Riyadh in November.
"Regrettably, all efforts have not resulted in securing Qatar's agreement to implement the (security) pact," the three countries added in the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency SPA.
Qatar has good relations with Shiite Iran, which Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain view as a regional rival.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have in the past also accused Iran of supporting their local Shiites, which are seeking more rights from the Sunni monarchies.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar are members of the six-nation GCC. Kuwait and Oman are the two other members.
They said the measure was designed to protect their security and stability.
Qatar did not comment on the move, one of the most serious standoffs in the GCC's 33-year-old history.
Qatar is a staunch backer of Egypt's now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood whose political agenda is widely suspected by other Gulf countries.
In July, Egypt's military deposed president Mohammed Morsi of the Brotherhood, a step politically and financially supported by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
“By recalling their ambassadors, the three countries would like to make Qatar aware that the situation is serious,” said Zuheir al-Harthi, a Saudi analyst.
“It is no longer secret that there are people in Qatar who practise in a way that threatens the security and stability of these countries,” al-Harthi told journalists in Dubai.
“Qatar has opted either to stay silent or turn a blind eye to these practices.”
Last month, the UAE summoned the Qatari ambassador to protest against critical statements made by the Egyptian-born Qatari cleric Youssef al-Qaradawi, the Brotherhood's spiritual leader.
Egypt and several Gulf countries have repeatedly accused Qatar's media of biased coverage.
The three countries said in a joint statement that their move was taken after they had failed to commit Qatar to implementing a security pact signed by its Emir Tamim bin Hamad in the Saudi capital Riyadh in November.
"Regrettably, all efforts have not resulted in securing Qatar's agreement to implement the (security) pact," the three countries added in the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency SPA.
Qatar has good relations with Shiite Iran, which Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain view as a regional rival.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have in the past also accused Iran of supporting their local Shiites, which are seeking more rights from the Sunni monarchies.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar are members of the six-nation GCC. Kuwait and Oman are the two other members.
They said the measure was designed to protect their security and stability.
Qatar did not comment on the move, one of the most serious standoffs in the GCC's 33-year-old history.
Qatar is a staunch backer of Egypt's now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood whose political agenda is widely suspected by other Gulf countries.
In July, Egypt's military deposed president Mohammed Morsi of the Brotherhood, a step politically and financially supported by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
“By recalling their ambassadors, the three countries would like to make Qatar aware that the situation is serious,” said Zuheir al-Harthi, a Saudi analyst.
“It is no longer secret that there are people in Qatar who practise in a way that threatens the security and stability of these countries,” al-Harthi told journalists in Dubai.
“Qatar has opted either to stay silent or turn a blind eye to these practices.”
Last month, the UAE summoned the Qatari ambassador to protest against critical statements made by the Egyptian-born Qatari cleric Youssef al-Qaradawi, the Brotherhood's spiritual leader.
Egypt and several Gulf countries have repeatedly accused Qatar's media of biased coverage.