UK fears the Gulf's Qatar blockade is hurting its people
The emirate is being cut off diplomatically and economically on a scale not seen before, and there is little sign of a resolution.
Monday 12 June 2017 18:32, UK
The UK's Government says it is concerned that collective action by Gulf states is having an adverse impact on the lives of ordinary people in Qatar.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is meeting officials from several Gulf countries this week, and is urging his counterparts to take immediate steps to de-escalate the current tensions and find a rapid resolution through mediation.
After meeting Qatari foreign minister Mohammed al Thani, Mr Johnson urged Qatar "to take seriously their neighbours' concerns".
He said Qatar must also do more to address support for extremist organisations, building on the steps they have already taken to tackle funding to those groups.
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A week in to the unprecedented blockade of Qatar by its neighbours, there is little sign of progress towards a resolution.
The small emirate is being cut off diplomatically and economically on a scale not seen before and is launching a diplomatic offensive to push its side of the argument.
Before his meeting with Boris Johnson, Sheikh al Thani told Sky News there is a lot at stake for his country and its neighbours.
He said: "We don't think the region can afford further escalation, the region is going through turbulence around us. We have a lot of security challenges in that region. And the Gulf countries were the centre of stability for that region.
"I believe that all the countries know the urgency of solving this problem as soon as possible."
Sheikh al Thani downplayed the impact on his country's economy - and said the banking sector is not a major concern.
He insisted that only 16% of food imports cross the now-closed land border with Saudi Arabia, although others put the figure far higher.
The foreign minister also sounded determined to ensure the blockade on Qatari airspace is proven illegal as soon as possible under international law.
Qatar's regional rivals insist it funds and supports political Islam, al Qaeda-linked Syrian militias and the Muslim Brotherhood - as well as accusing the small state of being too cosy with Iran, the Shia regional superpower. Doha flatly rejects claims it is a sponsor of terrorism.
Making life more uncomfortable for Qatar is Donald Trump's open support for the other side. The US President insists Qatar funds and supports terrorism at a high level.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been conciliatory - calling for an immediate end to the blockade.
Sheikh al Thani made it clear his government is listening not to the President, but to his officials instead.
"We say that what reflects the relationship between Qatar and United States is not the word of the other country's leader - it is the work being done by the agencies," he said.