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Qatar condemned a Bahraini statement accusing Qatar of illegally seizing its boats and fishermen, Qatar news agency (QNA) reported Tuesday.
Qatar described the statement as a desperate attempt to escalate the ongoing diplomatic dispute, QNA said.
The Bahraini Interior Ministry issued a statement on Qatar's detention of 15 Bahraini boats carrying 20 sailors, saying the move is illegal.
Meanwhile, Qatar's Ministry of Interior said that the fishing boats "illegally entered the Qatari waters," and the detention was not a new procedure.
"All unauthorized fishing boats receive a warning to leave Qatari waters, and are referred to the competent authorities if they do not comply," added the source.
The Ministry of the Interior, represented by the Coast and Borders Security Department, has repeatedly warned fishermen not to fish in Qatari waters and not to use harmful fishing practices, it said.
On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic and trade links with Qatar, suspending air and shipping routes with the oil-rich country, which is also home to the region's biggest U.S. military base.
The quartet accused Doha of supporting terrorism and extremism. Qatar has denied all these charges.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
