CAIRO, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Information officials from the Saudi Arabia-led bloc of Arab countries on Wednesday lashed out at Qatar's Al-Jazeera TV for inciting against Arab countries and undermining regional security.
Addressing the opening session of the 48th meeting of the Arab Information Ministers Council (AIMC), Saudi Minister of Information and Culture Awwad Saleh al-Awwad called Al-Jazeera TV as "the channel of evil that supports terrorism and extremism."
Awwad accused the Qatari network of implementing foreign agendas with the aim of sowing seeds of sedition in the Arab region, Egypt's state-run news agency MENA reported.
Awwad also called for "foiling terrorist groups' plots to propagate extremist thoughts in the Arab countries."
Bahraini Minister of Information Affairs Ali bin Mohammed al-Rumaihi also slammed the Al-Jazeera TV as well as some Iranian TV stations for their "ongoing attempts to undermine regional security and stability and spread rumors and lies."
Al-Rumaihi called for adopting a firm stance against them as they "pose a threat to the Arab national security."
In his speech to the meeting, Makram Mohamed Ahmed, head of Egypt's Supreme Council for Media, said the AIMC should square up for uprooting terrorism.
Ahmed accused Qatar of financing terrorism at a time when Egypt is fighting terrorism. He also called Qatar and the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt "the cat paw for intelligence services of countries that are seeking to destroy the region."
He said the goal of winning the anti-terror war will not be achieved unless rogue countries supporting terrorism are punished.
Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al-Jaber, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Media Council, underscored the pivotal role of the media industry in fighting terrorism and extremism.
He called for implementing strategies ensuring the values of tolerance and coexistence, and for combating the extremist thoughts via the media and information platforms.
The Saudi-led bloc, which includes Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE, cut their diplomatic ties with Qatar early last month, accusing Doha of financing and supporting terrorism and interfering in their internal affairs. They also imposed a blockade on the tiny rich Gulf nation.
They issued a list of 13 demands later last month for Doha to change its course, including closing the Al-Jazeera TV station, downgrading ties with Iran and stopping financing terrorism.
Qatar has denied the accusations, while rejecting the Saudi-led bloc's demands, citing it will not negotiate on issues related to sovereignty.
The foreign ministers of the Saudi-led quartet, who met with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, are expected to hold another meeting soon in Bahrain to discuss the next steps to tighten their sanctions on Qatar.
