Saudi king orders Qatar border reopened to Hajj pilgrims: State media

Haider al-Abadi Sunday said "no" to Bahrain's invitation to Iraq to join the Saudi-led bloc, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, and cut ties with Qatar, The New Arab noted citing anonymous Iraqi sources.

King Salman, while ordering the opening of the Salwa border crossing, also said that all Qatari citizens will be allowed to cross the border without the required electronic passes used for pilgrims.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Thursday that the decision to reopen the borders came after the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received an envoy from Doha.

Jeddah is the airport hub for pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

He also ordered that the transport of all Qatari pilgrims from King Fahad International Airport in Dammam and Al Ahsa's International Airport will be done free of charge.

Somalia's northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland has officially announced on Wednesday its position on the deepening Qatar-Gulf crisis, Garowe Online reports.

Saudi Arabia, and UAE reportedly tried last month to drag Baghdad into the spat but Abadi pushed off their requests.

In June, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, cutting all air, land and sea links and imposed economic sanctions.

Qatar, for its part, denies the accusations and contends that the blockade is in violation of global law.

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