One of the first signs of the crisis in which four Arab states have cut ties with Qatar came in a phone call from an anxious government adviser to a Reuters journalist early on May 24.
In the 6.00 a.m. call, he denied Qatar's emir made comments reported by the state-run news agency criticizing hostility to Iran, sympathizing with three Islamist groups, accusing Saudi Arabia of adopting an extremist ideology that fosters terrorism and suggesting Donald Trump may not last long as U.S. president.