Four Arab states boycotting Qatar over alleged support for terrorism have sent a list of 13 demands, including closing Al Jazeera television and reducing ties to their regional adversary Iran, an official of one of the four countries has said.
The demands, aimed at ending the worst Gulf Arab crisis in years, appear designed to quash a two decade-old foreign policy in which Qatar has punched well above its weight, striding the stage as a peace broker, often in conflicts in Muslim lands.
Qatar's independent-minded approach, including a pacifist line on Iran and support for Islamist groups, in particular the Muslim Brotherhood, has incensed some of its neighbours who see political Islamism as a threat to their dynastic rule.
The list, compiled by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, which cut economic, diplomatic and travel ties to Qatar on 5 June, also demands the closing of a Turkish military base in Qatar, the official told Reuters.
Turkey's Defence Minister Fikri Isik rejected the demand, saying any call for the base to be shut would represent interference in their relations with Qatar.
He suggested instead that Turkey might bolster its presence.
"Strengthening the Turkish base would be a positive step in terms of the Gulf's security," he said. "Re-evaluating the base agreement with Qatar is not on our agenda."
Qatar must also announce it is severing ties with terrorist, ideological and sectarian organisations including the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly al-Qaeda's branch in Syria, the Arab official said.
Qatar would also be required to surrender all designated terrorists on its territory.
The four Arab countries accuse Qatar of funding terrorism, fomenting regional instability and cosying up to revolutionary theocracy Iran. Qatar has denied the accusations.
Qatari officials did not reply immediately to requests for comment.
However on Monday, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Qatar would not negotiate with the four states unless they lifted their measures.
The countries have given Qatar ten days to comply, failing which the list becomes "void", the official said without elaborating, suggesting the offer to end the dispute in return for the 13 steps would no longer be on the table.
US President Donald Trump has taken a tough stance on Qatar, accusing it of being a "high level" sponsor of terrorism, but he has also offered help to the parties in the dispute to resolve their differences.
