Qatar Pulls Ambassador from Egypt in Airstrike Dispute

Qatar recalled its ambassador to Egypt for "consultations" on Thursday in a widening rift over Egypt's air force carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Libya earlier this week. Egypt conducted the bombings Monday hours after a video emerged showing militants beheading 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians. But Qatar expressed concern about the Egypt's decision to respond with unilateral action in Libya. In turn, Egypt's delegate to the Arab League, Tarek Adel, was quoted by the state-run MENA news agency as saying that Qatar's objection showed that it is "supportive of terrorism." The two countries have had periods of strained relations, particularly after Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, then the military chief, led the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Qatar has been a haven for members of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, a group that has been banned in Egypt and labeled a terrorist organization.



from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1E8Vunq