DOHA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Qatar has ordered for seven warships from Italy worth 5 billion euros amid diplomatic crisis with Saudi-led bloc, according to Qatari foreign minister.
"We have signed a contract on behalf of the Qatari navy to acquire seven warships from Italy for five billion euros (5.9 billion U.S. dollars)," Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said at a Doha press conference with his visiting Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano.
Qatar, a key US ally, denies the allegations and accuses the Saudi-led bloc of imposing a "siege" on the tiny emirate.
Saudi Arabia and its allies including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing Doha of backing extremist groups and being too close to Riyadh's arch-rival Iran.
