Qatar confident of weathering economic blockade: finance minister

Dubai

QATAR has enough financial firepower to defend its currency and economy, Finance Minister Ali Shareef Al Emadi said, as a Saudi-led campaign to isolate the small Gulf Arab country entered its second week.

Mr Al Emadi sought to play down the impact of the crisis on the country, saying the plunge in Qatari assets last week was a "normal" reaction to moves by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt to cut diplomatic and transport links with Qatar.