Dubai: Yemen arrested two wanted men as Arab countries boycotting Qatar expanded their terror list and added 18 more groups and individuals that they say are linked to Qatar.
On Tuesday, the Arab bloc blacklisted nine charity and media organisations and nine individuals who supported terrorism and are directly or indirectly linked to Qatari authorities.
Three Yemeni charities, three Libyan media outlets, two armed groups and a religious foundation are now included in the list.
“We expect Qatari authorities to take the next step and prosecute the terrorist groups and people,” a statement issued by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt said. “The four countries and their international partners will ensure that Qatar has ceased its support and funding of terrorism, has stopped welcoming terrorists and has stopped spreading extremist and hate speech,” it added.
The bloc, which now blacklists 89 people and organisations with ties to terrorist groups backed by Qatar, also dismissed an amendment last week to Doha’s counter-terrorism law as “insufficient”.
Tuesday’s statement said Qatari, Kuwaiti and Yemeni nationals were helping to raise funds for Al Qaida. It also said that two Libyan individuals and six groups were affiliated with “terrorist groups in Libya”.
In Yemen, the two men linked Al Qaida have been arrested in Hadramaut. Local security sources said the elite forces detained Abdullah Mohammad Ali Al Yazidi and Ahmad Ali Ahmad Baraoud as part of a security campaign to pursue all members supporting Al Qaida’s work.
In Brussels, Egypt warned the EU that the four Arab states would accept no compromise in their dispute with Qatar. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri, speaking after talks with European Union diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels, said: “It is not an issue of compromise, we cannot compromise with any form of terrorism, we cannot compromise or enter into any form of negotiations.”
Arab states add 18 people, groups to terrorist lists
Four Arab countries have added 18 more groups and individuals that they say are linked to Qatar to their "terrorist" lists, Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday, further escalating a row with Doha that has stoked regional tensions.
The lists now include three Yemeni charities, three Libyan media outlets, two armed groups and a religious foundation, some of which are already subject to US sanctions.
"The terrorist activities of the aforementioned entities and individuals have direct and indirect ties with the Qatari authorities," a statement issued by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain said.
The four states cut ties with Qatar - a major global gas supplier and host to the biggest US military base in the Middle East - on June 5, accusing it of financing militant groups in Syria, and allying with Iran, their regional foe.
Qatar has not yet commented on Tuesday's updated list, but last month it denied the allegations and dismissed charges of support for Islamist militancy, calling them "baseless allegations that hold no foundation in fact".
Mediation efforts led by Kuwait and shuttle diplomacy by Western officials, including US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan have failed to end what has become the worst rift between Gulf Arab states in years.
Tuesday's statement accused Qatari, Kuwaiti and Yemeni nationals of helping to raise funds for al Qaeda. The statement also said that two Libyan individuals and six groups were suspected of being affiliated with "terrorist groups in Libya".
The groups include two television stations, one of which is affiliated with the Qatar-based Al Jazeera television, a militia group based in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi and one of its senior commanders.
"They have received substantial financial support from the Qatari authorities and played an active role in spreading chaos and devastation in Libya," the statement said.
Supporters of terrorism
Entities
Al Balagh Charitable Foundation - Yemen
Al Ihsan Charitable Society - Yemen
Rahma Charitable Organisation - Yemen
Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council - Libya
Al Saraya Media Centre - Libya
Boshra News Agency - Libya
Rafallah Sahati Brigade - Libya
Nabaa TV - Libya
Tanasuh Foundation for Dawa, Culture and Media - Libya
Individuals
Khalid Saeed Al Bounein (Qatari citizen)
Shaqer Jummah Al Shahwani (Qatari citizen)
Saleh Bin Ahmad Al Ganim (Qatari citizen)
Hamid Hamad Hamid Al Ali (Kuwaiti citizen)
Abdullah Mohammad Al Yazidi (Yemeni citizen - arrested)
Ahmad Ali Ahmed Baraoud (Yemeni citizen - arrested)
Mohammad Bakr Al Dabaa (Yemeni citizen)
Al Saadi Abdullah Ebrahim
Bukhazem (Libyan citizen)
Ahmad Abd Al Jaleel
Al Hasnawi (Libyan citizen)
