Qatar accuses Saudis of reckless behaviour

DUBAI: Qatar accused its giant neighbour Saudi Arabia of reckless behaviour after a newspaper report that Riyadh had threatened military action if Doha installed a Russian air defence system.

Qatar´s foreign minister told Al Jazeera he did not think the Saudi threat - reportedly made in a letter to France - was serious. But he accused Riyadh of using the letter to try and create a "disturbance" in a region already rocked by a year-long stand-off between Doha and other powers.

France´s Le Monde newspaper reported on Saturday that Saudi King Salman had sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron expressing concern over talks between Doha and Moscow about Russian S-400 missile air defence systems.

The newspaper added that the king had said Saudi Arabia was ready to consider all measures, including military action. "We are seeking formal confirmation from the French government (about the letter)," Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the English-language channel of Qatar-based Al Jazeera in an interview aired on Tuesday.

"There is no serious military threat out of this, but the way it is being used to justify or to create a disturbance in the region is just unacceptable," he said. "There is no legitimate grievance behind this letter and threatening Qatar.

"Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates severed diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar a year ago, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism. Qatar denies the accusation and says the boycott is an attempt to impinge on its sovereignty.

The French president´s office and the Saudi government´s communications office have not responded to requests for comment on the newspaper report. Qatar and Russia signed an agreement on military and technical cooperation last year.