By Sibel Ugurlu

DOHA

Kuwait's leader on Monday urged his Qatari counterpart to refrain from steps that would escalate an ongoing diplomatic crisis, according to Kuwait’s official news agency.

In a phone call, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah asked Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani “to exercise self-restraint and to refrain from steps that would escalate the situation”, KUNA reported.

The Kuwaiti emir also expressed hope that Qatar would “give a chance to efforts aimed at containing tension in brotherly relations among brothers".

Meanwhile, the Qatari emir received Oman’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Bin Alawi in Doha to hold talks on bolstering bilateral relations.

Alawi’s visit came amid a severe diplomatic row between Qatar and several other Arab states.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen all abruptly announced their decision to sever diplomatic relations with Qatar, citing “national security” concerns.

According to Doha, "baseless" allegations that it supports terrorism are being used to tarnish the image and unity of the Gulf states.