Qatari sheikh says assets frozen over Gulf crisis

DOHA: A controversial member of Qatar's royal family said Saturday that Qatari authorities have frozen his bank accounts over his role in Doha's crisis with its neighbours.

"The Qatari regime has honoured me by freezing all my bank accounts," Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al-Thani tweeted.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt severed ties with Qatar on June 5 over its alleged support of extremism — charges that Doha denies.

In August, Sheikh Abdullah met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mediate on reopening a land border to allow Qatari pilgrims to perform the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.

It was the first high-level public encounter between the nations since the diplomatic crisis erupted.

Doha was quick to point out that he was in Saudi Arabia on a "personal" mission, not for the government.

Sheikh Abdullah belongs to a branch of the Al-Thani royal family, which has seen its power eroded but is still well-connected.

"I wish Qatar… to return to its Gulf brothers as there is no one else to count on," he tweeted on Saturday.

Gulf media reports have speculated over the possible formation of a Qatari government in exile headed by Sheikh Abdullah.