Riyadh hosts GCC summit to discuss Qatar

Leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members gathered in Riyadh Sunday for a summit to discuss issues of common interests, mainly Qatar's policy towards other member countries.

The leaders discussed disputes between Qatar and a group of three countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, Xinhua quoted regional director of Al Arabia News Khalid Al Matrafi as saying.

If the summit turned to be a success then the annual GCC summit expected to be held next months in Qatar might be cancelled or postponed to give Qatar a period of six to one year to correct its stances and implement Riyadh agreement that was drafted early this year, a source said.

The source added that if the summit fails then there will be no summit in Qatar and it will be held next year in Kuwait.

The three-country group withdrew their ambassadors to Qatar in March, while attributing the reason to Qatar's direct and indirect interference in internal issues of GCC countries, and to its supports for individuals and organisations that endanger the stability and security of Gulf countries.

The summit was chaired by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaiz Al Saud and attended by UAE Vice President Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktum, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Amir of Kuwait Shaikh Subah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Subah, Amir of Qatar and Shaikh Tamin bin Hamad Al Thani.