Qatar rejects dispute with Saudi Arabia over Syria

Qatari Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah has dismissed reports about the country’s dispute with Saudi Arabia over the crisis in Syria.

Speaking at a public forum in Brussels on Saturday, Attiyah denied the reports, saying, “We have the highest level of coordination with the Friends of Syria and in particular with Saudi Arabia.”

Diplomats and sources have cited disputes between Qatari- and Saudi-backed groups within the so-called Syrian National Coalition and noted that the two Arab monarchies are sponsoring different groups.

In letters to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President of the Security Council Sylvie Lucas on Sunday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry once again complained to the United Nations about Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting foreign-backed militants operating against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Since the outset of the Syrian crisis in 2011, Qatar has also been sponsoring the militants in Syria, including the Takfiri extremist groups.

The reports about Doha-Riyadh differences come after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain earlier in March recalled their ambassadors to Qatar after accusing Doha of interfering in the internal affairs of their countries. Qatar has denied the allegations.