SAUDI ARABIA SHUTS DIALOGUE AFTER QATAR PHONE CALL

RIYADH: SaudiArabiaonSaturday suspended any dialogue with Qatar, accusing it of distorting facts, after a phone call between the rulers of both countries offeredhopeofabreakthroughin the three-month-old Gulf crisis.

Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani , spoke to SaudiCrownPrinceMohammed bin Salman to express interest in talks,statemediafrombothsides said, in the first public dialogue between the leaders.

Saudi Arabia led the UAE, EgyptandBahrainincuttingties withQatar in June,accusing itof bankrolling Islamist extremist groups and of being too close to regional rival Iran. Doha denies the accusations.

The crown prince “welcomed this desire,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, adding “details will be announced after Saudi Arabia reaches an agreementwithUAEandBahrainand Egypt”.Buttheprospectofathaw quicklydieddownafterSPAsubsequently accused Qatar’s state mediaofimplyingthatSaudiArabia had initiated the outreach.

“WhatwaspublishedbyQatar News Agency is continuation of Qatari authority’s distortion of facts,” SPA said, adding that any dialogue was now suspended.

The development came after US President Donald Trump on Fridayspokeseparatelywiththe leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE after offering to act as a mediator the previous day.