Kuwait’s request for extension on demands deadline for Qatar approved

Cairo - 3 July 2017: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain approved the Kuwait's request to extend the deadline they gave to Qatar to reply to a list of demands, to end the ongoing rift.

Kuwait has received a response by Qatar to a list of demands by Arab nations accusing Doha of supporting terrorism, but has asked those countries to extend the deadline, for 48 hours, reported by KUNA.

Without stating whether Qatar had rejected the ultimatum as was widely expected, KUNA said Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah asked Saudi Arabia and three other countries that have boycotted Qatar to grant it an extension.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has called earlier on Sunday for holding a quartet meeting with his counterparts of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain on the Arab’s dispute with Qatar on Wednesday, according to Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Arab and Gulf countries, mainly Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain, severed their ties with Qatar over accusations of supporting terrorist groups.

The four countries have also sent Doha a list of 13 demands which must be met by Monday in order to end the standoff.

The deadline to accept the 13 demands will expire on Sunday night. The demands include cutting diplomatic ties with Turkey, shutting down al Jazeera channels, and stop funding terrorist groups.

Kuwait tried to mediate a resumption of diplomatic and commercial ties between Qatar and several of its Arab neighbors.

They also labeled 59 individuals and 12 organizations, with ties with Qatar, as terrorists, and had closed their airspace and maritime navigation for Qatari vessels early June.