Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Abdullah will not attend an upcoming Gulf summit in Qatar, Reuters reported Tuesday. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal will take part in the annual summit on Saturday, but Abdullah -- who participated last year -- will not be present, a Saudi source told Reuters.
"Obviously there is a reason for the crown prince not attending. Saudi Arabia has withdrawn its ambassador from Qatar," said a Gulf source. "The wound has not healed."
A rift developed this summer between Saudi Arabia and Qatar over the Qatar-based al Jazeera satellite channel and Doha's continued ties with Israel.
The kingdom was angered by Qatar's failure to restrain the popular television network, which in June aired programs seen as an affront to the Saudi royal family. (Albawaba.com)
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