ALGIERS

Algeria on Tuesday called for dialogue among Gulf countries after some of them severed diplomatic relations with Qatar for national security concerns. 

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry called for adopting dialogue "as a way to settle differences that could arise among states".

"Algeria remains confident that the current difficulties are temporary and that wisdom and self-restraint will prevail," the statement said.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Yemen cut diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.

The abrupt escalation came two weeks after the website of Qatar’s official news agency was allegedly hacked by an unknown group that reportedly published statements falsely attributed to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim.

The incident ignited a diplomatic row between Qatar and fellow Gulf states Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Reporting by Abdul Razzaq bin Abdullah; Writing by Mahmoud Barakat