Saudi-led bloc agrees to 48-hour extension for Doha

By Ahmed al-Masri and Gülsen Topcu

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia

Four countries that have imposed a blockade against Qatar have agreed to extend a deadline for which Doha has to respond to a list of demands, according to Saudi state news agency Monday.

A joint statement issued by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain Egypt and the United Arab Emirates said the group accepted the request by Kuwait.

Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah demanded the Saudi-led bloc extend the Sunday deadline for 48 hours as Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdurrahman Al-Thani is set to meet al-Sabah on Monday and the Qatari government “confirmed” it would then announce an official response.

Speaking on British television, Qatari Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah said: "I hope we don't come to a stage where a military intervention is made but we always stand ready. We are here to defend our country.”

He said Qatar has proven it is not an easy country to be “swallowed up”.

The diplomatic row erupted June 5 when the four nations and Yemen abruptly cut diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing it of interfering in domestic affairs of other countries in the region and supporting terrorist groups.

They also imposed a land, sea and air blockade.

The Qatari government has strongly rejected the accusations and stressed the blockade was a violation of international law.