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Qatar Defends Foreign Policy in Face of Gulf Anger

Qatar defended its independent foreign policy Monday after Saudi Arabia and two other Gulf countries recalled their envoys from Doha accusing it of meddling in their internal affairs.

"Our policy is based on openness towards all, and we do not want to exclude anyone," Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiya said during a visit to Paris, in remarks aired by Doha-based Al-Jazeera television.

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Saudis, Emiratis Quit Qatari Media Outlets

Saudi and Emirati pundits have quit major media outlets in Qatar, including the broadcaster of top-flight European football, they said on Sunday, as tensions soar between Doha and Gulf states.

In an unprecedented decision on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain withdrew their envoys to Qatar, which they accused of meddling in their internal affairs by supporting Islamists.

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Fog Disrupts UAE Flights

Dense morning fog led to flight diversions from Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports, causing delays Thursday, officials and an airline said.

Dubai Airport announced delays on its Twitter account due to the fog and the Gulf News daily quoted a spokesman as saying that low visibility has "caused the diversion of eight flights into Dubai and one flight was canceled."

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Doha Regrets but Won't Reciprocate over Saudi, Bahrain, UAE Envoys Recall

Three Gulf monarchies recalled their ambassadors from Doha Wednesday in an unprecedented escalation in tension with fellow Gulf Cooperation Council member Qatar, accused of backing the widely banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain said the decision was made in protest against Qatar's alleged interference in their internal affairs. Doha said it regretted the recall of its envoys but would not follow suit.

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Qatar Committee Slams 'Unfair' UAE Jailing of Citizen

A Qatar rights body will pursue the release of a citizen who was jailed seven years over links to an Islamist group in an "unfair" UAE ruling, local media reported Wednesday.

A top United Arab Emirates court on Monday sentenced Qatari national Mahmud al-Jidah to seven years in prison followed by deportation after he was convicted with two Emiratis of raising funds for a local Muslim Brotherhood-linked group, Al-Islah.

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Dubai Deputy Police Chief Says Hizbullah Trained Bahraini Bomb Attacker, Party Denies

Dubai's police chief Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan slammed on Tuesday the Islamic Republic of Iran and its ally Hizbullah a day after a bomb explosion in Bahrain killed three policemen, including an Emirati.

However, Hizbullah “categorically” denied Khalfan's allegation, saying in a statement issued in the evening that “this claim is totally unfounded.”

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UAE Police Officer among 3 Dead in Bahrain Blast

An Emirati police officer from a joint Gulf force in Bahrain was among three personnel killed Monday in a bomb at a Shiite village near Manama, the UAE government said.

First Lieutenant Tariq al-Shehi died along with two members of the Bahraini police force "while performing his national duty of maintaining order," the United Arab Emirates' interior ministry said in a statement carried by WAM state news agency.

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UAE Jails Three 'Islamists' Up to 7 Years

A UAE court on Monday jailed a Qatari and two Emiratis up to seven years for raising funds in support of a Muslim Brotherhood-linked group, a pro-government newspaper reported.

Dozens of Islamists have been jailed in recent months in the United Arab Emirates as concern grows over the Muslim Brotherhood following the group's prominent role in Arab Spring uprisings.

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Jet Trainer Crash in UAE Kills Two

A military training aircraft crashed during an exercise in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, killing both pilots, a UAE armed forces statement said.

An investigation has begun into the crash, said the statement carried by WAM state news agency, without specifying where in the desert Gulf state the aircraft came down or the type of aircraft involved.

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Airport Authorities Foil Smuggling of 7.5 Kilos of Cocaine into Lebanon

Customs authorities at the Rafik Hariri International Airport foiled two attempts to smuggle 7.5 kilograms of cocaine into the country on Friday.

“Two Turkish citizens were arrested for trying to smuggle the drugs from Venezuela into Lebanon,” NNA said, noting that one of the Turks arrived from France and the other from Abu Dhabi.

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