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| Arabia |
| Russia Downgrades Relations with Qatar |
| 2011-12-06 |
| [An Nahar] Russia is downgrading its relations with the Gulf state of Qatar following an airport attack on its ambassador, the foreign ministry said on Monday. The ministry said Moscow's ambassador to Doha "was attacked by security and customs personnel" who were trying to strip him of his diplomatic bag. "As a result of their aggressive behavior, the Qatar side's actions damaged the ambassador's health," the statement said. Russia demanded an official apology from the Arab state for the November 29 incident, noting that senior Doha officials had been "informed about the decision to downgrade relations with Qatar." The statement added that the ambassador, who was identified only as V. E. Titorenko, would be recalled to Russia "once he completes treatment". |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 So I suspect the Russian was trying to transport information about some very secret nefarious operation, either against the government of Qatar or the US Considering that there have been Russian-sponsored assassinations in nearby Dubai, I wouldn't limit it to just "Qatar or the US". |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-12-06 15:49 |
| #1 I suspect some deep espionage operation. The US has a major airbase in Qatar, and both the Iranians and the Russians do not like that one bit. "Al Udeid Air Base is a military base west of Doha, Qatar. It houses foreign coalition personnel and assets. It is host to a forward headquarters of United States Central Command, headquarters of United States Air Forces Central Command, and home to both No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group RAF and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing of the USAF. "In 1999, Qatar's emir, Sheikh Hamad, reportedly told US officials that he would like to see as many as 10,000 US servicemen permanently stationed at Al Udeid." So I suspect the Russian was trying to transport information about some very secret nefarious operation, either against the government of Qatar or the US. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-12-06 11:29 |