Gulf states end rift with Qatar

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE have agreed to return their respective ambassadors to Qatar.

In an unprecedented public move, the three Gulf states had recalled their ambassadors in March, accusing Doha of failing to abide by an agreement not to interfere in one another's internal affairs.

The announcement to return the envoys followed a surprise meeting between representatives of the states in Saudi Arabia late on Sunday.

A statement posted on the Gulf Co-operation Council's official website said that the agreement aimed to "solidify the unity of the GCC".

A GCC statement on Sunday said the agreement for the ambassadors to return to Doha "promises the opening of a new page that will present a strong base, especially in light of the sensitive circumstances the region is undergoing".

It said these circumstances "require extra effort" to safeguard the Gulf's security.

"Based on this, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have decided to return their ambassadors to Doha," it said.

The three states fell out with Qatar in part over Doha's alleged support of the Muslim Brotherhood. Qatar said it backs all Arabs, not just Brotherhood members.

Saudi Arabia has banned the Brotherhood, accusing it of seeking to overthrow the Gulf monarchies.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE have accused Qatar of meddling in their internal affairs by supporting the Brotherhood.

Doha earlier this year asked Brotherhood leaders to leave Qatar following diplomatic pressure from Saudi Arabia.

The UAE on Saturday issued a list of 83 Islamist groups which it classified as “terrorist organizations,” among them the Qatar-based International Union of Muslim Scholars, which is headed by the Brotherhood’s spiritual guide Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a Qatari citizen.