Qatar and Egypt officials reportedly discuss reconciliation
Egyptian and Qatari intelligence officials have met in Cairo to discuss reconciliation as part of Saudi-brokered efforts to end an 18-month standoff over Doha's support of the Muslim Brotherhood, security and diplomatic sources said.
The sources said Qatar's intelligence chief - Ahmed Nasser Bin Jassim al-Thani - was present at the talks where a possible meeting between the Egyptian and Qatari heads of state early next year in Riyadh or Cairo was discussed.
Evidence has mounted in recent days that Saudi mediation could reach fruition. On Saturday, Sisi - now president - met a special envoy of Qatar's emir.
Then on Monday, Qatari-owned Al Jazeera television - which denies Egypt's charges of being a Brotherhood mouthpiece - suspended broadcast of its Egypt-focused channel.
The diplomatic flurry raised expectations that Egypt might free three Al Jazeera journalists in prison on charges related to supporting the Brotherhood.
A diplomatic source in the Gulf told Reuters the talks also covered Qatari involvement in Libya, where two governments vie for legitimacy and threaten to destabilise neighbours.
The source said Egyptian intelligence was checking Qatar had ceased alleged funding of Islamist groups in Egypt before any reconciliation.
"Egyptian authorities understand that not all their demands will be met right away ... but they have to make sure Qatar is serious and not just making a few cosmetic changes," he said.
