DHAKA: Qatar said on Saturday the decision by Egypt to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group was ‘a prelude to a shoot-to-kill policy’ against demonstrators.

Qatar was a firm supporter of Egypt’s former Islamist president Mohamed Mursi and ties with Cairo have deteriorated since the army deposed him in July following mass protests against his year-long rule.

Egypt accuses Qatar and its Doha-based Al Jazeera television channel of backing the Muslim Brotherhood, which it declared a terrorist organisation on December 25. Thousands of its members have been arrested.

A Qatari foreign ministry statement said, ‘The decision to designate popular political movements as terrorist organisations, and labelling peaceful demonstrations as terrorism, did not succeed in stopping the peaceful protests,’ reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 2000 HRS, JAN 04, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor