*Doha, Qatar: *A controversial member of Qatar’s royal family says he isbeing detained in the UAE, media reported Sunday, eight months into acrisis between Gulf states.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al-Thani, a little-known royal, emerged as anunlikely mediator in August, weeks after Riyadh and Abu Dhabi cut ties withDoha.
A video circulating online, also broadcast by Qatar-based Al-Jazeeratelevision, shows the sheikh seated in an armchair warning that he was”afraid something could happen to me that will be blamed on Qatar”.
“I am now in Abu Dhabi, where I was a guest of (UAE crown prince) SheikhMohammed” bin Zayed al-Nahyan, he said.
“That is no longer the case. I am now detained,” Sheikh Abdullah said.
“I want to make clear that the people of Qatar are innocent,” the sheikhsaid. “Sheikh Mohammed bears full responsibility for anything that happensto me.”
The video could not be immediately authenticated, while Emirati officialswere not immediately available for comment.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain severed diplomatic and trade tieswith Qatar in June over allegations Doha supported Islamist extremists andhad close ties to regional rival Iran.
Doha denies the accusations.
In August, Sheikh Abdullah met powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed binSalman to mediate on reopening a land border to allow Qatari pilgrims toperform the annual Muslim pilgrimage to the Saudi city of Mecca.
It was the first public high-level encounter between the two nations sincethe diplomatic crisis erupted.
Doha was quick to point out that he was in Saudi Arabia on a personalmission and did not represent the government.
Sheikh Abdullah belongs to a branch of the Al-Thani royal family that hasseen its power eroded but is still well-connected in the Gulf. -AFP