Head of the Qatari intelligence Sheikh Ahmed bin Nasser bin Jassem al-Thani arrived in Cairo on Monday night, to pave the way for a reconciliatory meeting between the heads of the two countries.
Security and diplomatic sources said the Qatari official came to Cairo to listen to the viewpoint of senior officials about reconciliation items, as a prelude to the agreement between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
After the Qatari intelligence chief met with security leaders in a hotel Tuesday morning, he expressed optimism toward the improvement of Egyptian-Qatari relations in the coming days.
Egyptian officials relayed complaints to the Qatari intelligence chief over the Muslim Brotherhood's exploitation of the State of Qatar and Al Jazeera to overthrow the regime in Egypt, stir fear and terror in the hearts of Egyptians, and incite violence, the sources mentioned.
The Egyptian official told his Qatari counterpart that Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr had broadcast misleading reports, portraying small gatherings of no more than 10 Muslim Brotherhood protesters in Cairo as clusters of hundreds or thousands. It had also used guest hosts who insulted Egyptian leaders and symbols without the slightest professionalism, said the official.
Qatar has been supportive of the Brotherhood in Egypt, and denounced the military overthrow of Egypt's first elected government and Brotherhood-supported President Mohamed Morsy. The new military regime has cracked down on Al Jazeera and arrested its reporters, accusing the Qatari-run newspaper of being biased.
An edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
