S&P said those countries' severing of diplomatic and business links "will exacerbate Qatar's external vulnerabilities and could put pressure on economic growth and fiscal" stability.
Several other countries later followed suit.Would-be mediators including U.S. President Donald Trump and Kuwait's ruling emir have struggled to ease a crisis that Qataris say has led to a blockade of their nation.Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Qatar had not yet been presented with a list of demands by countries that cut off diplomatic and transport ties, but insisted the matter be solved peacefully.
After the flare-up, Russian President Vladimir Putin "reaffirmed Russia's principled position in favour of settling crises by political and diplomatic means, through dialogue" in a phone call with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
It said that Trump, in a later call with Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan, called for unity among Gulf Arabs "but never at the expense of eliminating funding for radical extremism or defeating terrorism". U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was also ready to support diplomatic efforts "if desired by all parties", his spokesman said.Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Wednesday that Gulf states could resolve the dispute among themselves without outside help.
Al-Jazeera offices have been shut down by authorities in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
We are a platform for peace not terrorism.
The Gulf crisis has sparked fears of military escalation in an already volatile region. Home to some 10,000 troops, it is central to the US-led fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
Haley's Remarks on UN Human Rights Body Offer Hopeful Alternative
U.S. concerns include the human rights record of members like China and Venezuela and what it deems anti-Israel bias. Israel is the only country with a dedicated rights council agenda item, known as Item 7 .
Saudi Arabia has also sealed off Qatar's only land border, a crucial lifeline for food imports.
Analysts say the crisis is an extension of a pre-existing dispute which saw Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain temporarily recall their ambassadors from Doha in 2014 over Qatari support for Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.
Kuwait's emir is working to mediate the Gulf crisis around Qatar, which is home to a major US military base and is the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
A top Gulf official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP a major concern was the influence of Sheikh Tamim's father, Sheikh Hamad, who had allowed the Taliban to open an office in Doha and helped arm Syrian rebels before abdicating in 2013.
"The previous emir is a big supporter of this whole extremist agenda, so we do have an issue", the official said.
DUBAI/DOHA The United Arab Emirates tightened the squeeze on fellow Gulf state Qatar on Wednesday threatening anyone publishing expressions of sympathy towards it with up to 15 years in prison, and barring Qatari passport or resident visa holders entry.
"We are an independent country with sovereignty", he told AFP, rejecting tutelage from other states. The Saudi government recently called for Doha to cut its links with the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, the organization's Palestinian branch.
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