Arab states seek to step up pressure on Qatar over 2013 accord

Four Arab states sought to pile pressure on Qatar over

charges it backs terrorism, saying the publication of a previously

secret accord between Riyadh and Doha showed Qatar broke a promise not

to meddle in the affairs of Gulf countries.

The text

of the 2013 agreement, whose existence was known but whose contents have

never before been made public, was first published by CNN on Monday and

later released on social media by Saudi officials.

In

a joint statement on Monday, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab

Emirates and Egypt said the publication of the accord, meant to settle a

previous dispute between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors, "confirms beyond

any doubt Qatar's failure to meet its commitments and its full

violation of its pledges."

The four states slapped sanctions on Doha on June 5,

accusing it of supporting terrorism, cozying up to Iran, backing the

Muslim Brotherhood – the world's oldest Islamic organization, and

interference in their affairs.

The four said Qatar has pledged to desist from interfering in its neighbors' politics in the 2013 agreement.

Qatar rejected the charges and said the four countries are trying to impose their own views on its foreign policies.

The document surfaced as US Secretary of State Rex

Tillerson arrived in the region to help Washington's allies hammer out a

way out of the crisis that has divided the region.

Qatar

officials did not immediately respond to the request for comment, but

in a statement to CNN, Qatar accused Saudi Arabia and the UAE of

breaking the spirit of the Riyadh agreement and indulging in an

"unprovoked attack on Qatar's sovereignty."

In

response to CNN questions, a Qatari spokesman said in a statement that

it was Saudi Arabia and the UAE who "have broken the spirit of the

agreement."