Libya joins boycott-Qatar train, cuts diplomatic relations

CAIRO – 06 June 2017: Libya's eastern-based government declared Monday that it would cut diplomatic relations with Qatar. It called on the Justice Ministry of the Libyan interim government to investigate all damages in Libya that might have stemmed from Qatari interference.

Diplomatic relations were cut “considering Qatar’s hostile policy against Libya and its contribution in planting turmoil and instability in Libya by financing terrorist organizations and groups and providing them arms,” a statement issued by the Libyan House of Representatives on Monday reads.

The statement referred to Qatar’s stance against arming the Libyan army, which Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani emphasized at the U.N. Summit. Libya accused Qatar’s stance of weakening the Libyan national army in favor of the terrorists.

“The Libyan House of Representatives announce cutting diplomatic relations with Qatar, and urge the U.N. Security Council (UNSC), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and all human rights organizations to launch an immediate investigation on Qatari crimes against Libyan people, and its support of terrorists and extremists,” according to the Libyan statement.

Eastern Libya joins Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, UAE, and Bahrain, who also announced Monday that they are severing relations with Qatar over "its continuous support for terrorism," closing their airspace and seaports for Qatari transportation on Monday.