November 24, 2002	Sunday	Ramazan 18, 1423

RIYADH, Nov 23: Due to differences with Qatar on the role of Al-Jazeera satellite channel, foreign ministers of three key Gulf Cooperation Council states, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, did not turn up at Doha for a GCC ministerial meeting earlier this week.

Instead, junior ministers were sent to represent these countries at the meeting.

However, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad ibn Jassem Al-Thani played down the absence of the three ministers. “The differences between the GCC countries can be settled in a friendly way,” Sheikh Hamad was quoted as saying.

The GCC meeting was convened in Doha to prepare for the bloc’s summit scheduled to begin on Dec 22.

Riyadh recalled its ambassador from Doha for consultations in September, accusing the Al Jazeera channel, based in Doha, of offending Saudis’ sentiments.

Kuwait closed down the network’s office earlier this month, saying it took a “hostile” stand against the emirate.

Bahrain has refused to accredit journalists working for the channel.

Last month the GCC information ministers accused Al Jazeera of “insulting and defaming” them and called for a halt to all advertising and commercial dealings.