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Qatar demands will be very difficult to meet, says US secretary of state

Rex Tillerson called for Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to “sit together” to work through the list of demands.

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Rex Tillerson

The US secretary of state has said some demands on Qatar by its Middle East neighbours “will be very difficult to meet”.

Rex Tillerson said that a list of demands from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates includes major areas that “provide a basis for ongoing dialogue leading to a resolution”.

He called for Qatar and the other Arab countries to “sit together” to work through the list.

Mr Tillerson is also calling for a “lowering of rhetoric” to “help ease the tension” and said the US is supporting Kuwait’s efforts to mediate.

The demands include shutting broadcaster Al-Jazeera and severing ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Mr Tillerson had previously insisted any demands be “reasonable and actionable”.

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