(FINNBAY-ANSAmed) – Riyadh, 17 March 2014. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain decided on Wednesday to withdraw their ambassadors to Qatar, denouncing the interference of Doha’s authorities in domestic affairs of neighbouring countries.

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The three countries said they had taken such a decision over the need ”to protect their security and stability”, according to a Saudi statement quoted by pan-Arab television Al Arabiya.

This unprecedented rift within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) follows a meeting defined by a number of media outlets as ”stormy” Tuesday night in Riyadh of foreign ministers from the six member countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain).

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The controversy was reportedly sparked by the different position of Qatar, compared to other Gulf monarchies, on the latest political developments in Egypt. Doha allegedly sided with the Muslim Brothers of ousted President Mohamed Morsi while Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE have ensured their support, in particular financially, to the new government.

The three countries moreover suspect that Qatar is supporting Muslim Brotherhood cells active on their territories. Dozens of Brothers have been served jail terms in the UAE. The latest to be sentenced to seven years in jail is a Qatari national.