Qatar rejects Arab states' ultimatum

Qatar has said that the demands put forward by four Arab states were "made to be rejected" and once again denounced them as an infringement on its sovereignty. It also said it does not fear any retaliatory measure that could follow its refusal to comply with the demands.

"This list of demands is made to be rejected. It's not meant to be accepted or … to be negotiated," the Qatari Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, said during his visit to Rome, as cited by Reuters.

The minister particularly said that Qatar would not close down a Turkish military base or shut the Doha-based satellite channel Al Jazeera as demanded by the Arab countries.

He added, however, that his country is ready for dialog under "the proper conditions" to discuss the grievances raised by the other Arab nations. Any country is free to express its...