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Agencies
Washington
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has urged Saudi Arabia and its allies to lift a"land blockade" on Qatar, saying the US is satisfied with Doha's efforts to implement an agreement aimed at combating terror financing.
"They have been very aggressive in implementing that agreement, so I think we're satisfied with the effort they're putting forth," Tillerson told reporters just before meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah at the State Department on Friday.
The July 12 agreement between Qatar and the US seeks to"track down and disable terror financing" and was signed during a visit to Doha by Tillerson.
The four Arab states' severing of diplomatic, transport and commercial ties with Qatar has disrupted the import of food and other items and caused foreign banks to scale back business with Qatar.
"I hope the four countries will consider as a sign of good faith lifting this land blockade which is really having the most, I think negative effects on the Qatari people," Tillerson said.
He added that Qatar was willing to sit with the four countries to discuss their demands to end sanctions, but that it was important to Doha"that the sovereignty and dignity of all five countries be respected in those discussions."
