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Qatar flight ban begins as Gulf crisis grows Qatar row: Calls for diplomatic talks to end Gulf crisis
(about 3 hours later)
Egypt is closing its airspace to Qatari planes in a growing diplomatic row, with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain expected to do the same on Tuesday. Qatar is backing plans for talks with its regional rivals as a diplomatic row gathers pace.
Several countries have cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism in the Gulf region.Several countries have cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism in the Gulf region.
Countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have closed their airspace to Qatari planes.
Kuwait - one of the countries not involved in the dispute - has offered to mediate talks, and Qatar said it was receptive to dialogue.
In an interview with Qatar's Al Jazeera network, the Qatari foreign minister said Kuwait's emir would travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told Al Jazeera that Qatar was seeking "a dialogue of openness and honesty".
Kuwait was keen to "end crises through direct dialogue", its state news agency Kuna said.
Six countries - Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Yemen, Libya's eastern-based government and the Maldives - cut diplomatic ties with Qatar on Monday.
Qatari nationals in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been given two weeks to leave.Qatari nationals in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been given two weeks to leave.
Qatar denies backing militants and its foreign minister has called for "a dialogue of openness and honesty". Disruption to airspace in the Gulf began on Tuesday morning local time. Doha, Qatar's capital, is a major hub for international flight connections.
Egypt said it was closing off its airspace to Qatar from 04:00 GMT on Tuesday "until further notice". Airlines affected include Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates.
Travel disruption is expected as the airport in Doha, Qatar's capital, is a major hub for international flight connections. When avoiding Saudi Arabia, their massive - and only - neighbour, Qatar's planes are having to take more indirect routes, leading to longer flight times.
Airlines affected will include Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates.
When avoiding the massive neighbour to the west, Saudi Arabia, Qatari planes will inevitably have to take longer routes leading to longer flight times.
But Qatar's Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, told broadcaster Al Jazeera the country would "still have access to the world through international sea lanes and international airspace".
An anonymous Somali official told AP news agency at least 15 Qatar Airways flights had used Somalia's airspace on Monday, many more than on a normal day.
Who has done what?Who has done what?
The states who joined the move against Qatar, a tiny but gas-rich peninsula, on Monday include some of the biggest powers in the Arab world. The states that joined Monday's move against Qatar, a tiny but gas-rich peninsula, include some of the biggest powers in the Arab world.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE closed all transport ties by air, land and sea to Qatar. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE closed all transport links by air, land and sea.
They gave all Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave their territory, and banned their citizens from travelling to Qatar.They gave all Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave their territory, and banned their citizens from travelling to Qatar.
The UAE and Egypt expelled Qatari diplomats, giving them 48 hours to leave. The UAE and Egypt expelled Qatari diplomats, giving them 48 hours to leave, and Saudi Arabia closed down a local office of Al Jazeera.
Saudi Arabia closed down a local office of Al Jazeera but said Qatari citizens would still be allowed to take part in the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. In a country reliant on imported food, residents began to stockpile.
Egypt, Yemen, Libya's eastern-based government and the Maldives later followed suit in severing diplomatic ties. "People have stormed into the supermarket hoarding food, especially imported ones," one Doha resident, Eva Tobaji, told Reuters. "It's chaos - I've never seen anything like this before."
In a country reliant on imported food, residents began to stockpile. AFP news agency said queues in one shop were 25 people deep. How the economy may be hit: Andrew Walker, BBC News
How the economy may be hit: Analysis by the BBC's Andrew Walker A substantial amount of Qatar's food is transported across the border from Saudi Arabia, which is being closed. That is also an important route for construction materials - needed for the energy industry and for the preparations for the 2022 football world cup.
This small state is dependent on imported food.
A substantial amount of it is transported across the border from Saudi Arabia, which is being closed. That is also an important route for construction materials - needed for the energy industry and for the preparations for the 2022 football world cup.
Qatar's exports are dominated by oil and gas. They are mostly seaborne, so should not be immediately hit, but the general economic disruption could have an impact if the dispute drags on.Qatar's exports are dominated by oil and gas. They are mostly seaborne, so should not be immediately hit, but the general economic disruption could have an impact if the dispute drags on.
That possibility pushed the price of crude oil higher, but only briefly. Qatar is a member of the exporters' group Opec and the dispute could yet undermine the organisation's efforts to raise prices by restricting production.That possibility pushed the price of crude oil higher, but only briefly. Qatar is a member of the exporters' group Opec and the dispute could yet undermine the organisation's efforts to raise prices by restricting production.
Why has this happened?Why has this happened?
While the severing of ties was sudden, it has not come out of the blue, as tensions have been building for years, and particularly in recent weeks.While the severing of ties was sudden, it has not come out of the blue, as tensions have been building for years, and particularly in recent weeks.
Broadly, two key factors drove Monday's decision: Qatar's ties to Islamist groups, and to Iran, Saudi Arabia's regional rival.Broadly, two key factors drove Monday's decision: Qatar's ties to Islamist groups, and to Iran, Saudi Arabia's regional rival.
Wealthy individuals in Qatar are believed to have made donations and the government has given money and weapons to hardline Islamist groups in Syria. Wealthy individuals in Qatar are believed to have made donations and the government has given money and weapons to hardline Islamist groups in Syria - Qatar says this is not the case.
The Financial Times also reports that Gulf allies were angry that Qatar paid a $1bn (£773m) ransom to jihadists and Iranian security officials after Qatari nationals were kidnapped in Iraq and Syria.The Financial Times also reports that Gulf allies were angry that Qatar paid a $1bn (£773m) ransom to jihadists and Iranian security officials after Qatari nationals were kidnapped in Iraq and Syria.
Saudi Arabia, too, has been accused of funding IS, either directly or by failing to prevent private donors from sending money to the group - allegations it denies.
Analysts also say the timing of the diplomatic withdrawal, two weeks after a visit to Riyadh by US President Donald Trump, is crucial.Analysts also say the timing of the diplomatic withdrawal, two weeks after a visit to Riyadh by US President Donald Trump, is crucial.
Mr Trump's speech in Saudi Arabia, in which he blamed Iran for instability in the Middle East and urged Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalisation, is likely to have emboldened Gulf allies to act against Qatar.Mr Trump's speech in Saudi Arabia, in which he blamed Iran for instability in the Middle East and urged Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalisation, is likely to have emboldened Gulf allies to act against Qatar.
In the same week as Mr Trump's speech, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE blocked Qatari news sites, including Al Jazeera. Comments purportedly by Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, criticising Saudi Arabia had appeared on Qatari state media. In the same week as Mr Trump's speech, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE blocked Qatari news sites, including Al Jazeera. Comments purportedly by Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, criticising Saudi Arabia had appeared on Qatari state media.
The government in Doha dismissed the comments as fake, attributing the report to a "shameful cybercrime".The government in Doha dismissed the comments as fake, attributing the report to a "shameful cybercrime".
What has been the reaction? The latest reaction
Qatar, which is due to host the football World Cup in 2022, said the decision would "not affect the normal lives of citizens and residents". Are you due to fly to or from Qatar? Will you be affected by the disruption? Let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Iran, Turkey and the US have called on all sides to resolve their differences. Kuwait has offered to mediate talks. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Sudan's foreign ministry also called for dialogue and said the country was "fully ready to undertake all efforts in order to achieve calm and reconciliation that would help serve the interests of the people of the region". Or please use the form below:
Qatar's stock market closed down 7.27% on Monday.