Macron asks for lifting of embargo on Qatar "as soon as possible"

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday asked for the embargo imposed against Qatar to be lifted "as soon as possible".

During a meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Paris, Macron demanded "the embargo measures affecting the population of Qatar, particularly families and students, to be lifted as soon as possible".

He expressed concerns about the diplomatic row in the Gulf which he said it menaced regional stability and impede collective moves to combat terrorism.

"France, which maintains relations of friendship and trust with all the countries involved in this crisis, (wants) to play an active role to support Kuwaiti mediation, so that a rapid outcome will be found," Macron said.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic and trade links with Qatar, accusing Doha of financing terrorism and extremism. Qatar rejects the charges.

According to an Elysee press release, Macron and Sheikh Tamim vowed to "set up common mechanisms to drain the sources of terrorism's financing and prevent radicalization".