Trump says Arab leaders accused Qatar of funding extremism

[RIYADH] President Donald Trump said Mideast leaders he met during his trip to the region last month accused Qatar of financing extremism, remarks that may add pressure on the Gulf nation already facing an unprecedented campaign to isolate it.

"During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology," Mr Trump said on Twitter Tuesday morning.

"Leaders pointed to Qatar - look!"

Saudi Arabia and three regional allies - the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain - accused their fellow Gulf Cooperation Council member of supporting a range of violent groups, from proxies of Shiite Muslim Iran to the Sunni militants of al-Qaeda and Islamic State. They suspended flights and sea travel to Qatar, ordering Qatari diplomats and citizens out.

Qatar dismissed the charges as baseless, and said the Saudis are seeking to dominate the region.

BLOOMBERG