Ethiopia cuts ties with Qatar over "hostile" acts

Ethiopia broke diplomatic ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing the Gulf Arab state of supporting terrorism in Somalia and Ethiopia and spreading instability in the Horn of Africa.

"The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has decided to break diplomatic relations with the State of Qatar," Ethiopia's government said in an email statement.

"Whether in Somalia and in other parts of the Horn of Africa -- including within Ethiopia -- Qatar has been one of the most important supporters of terrorism and extremism in our sub-region," the statement said.

A U.S. ally and the biggest military power in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia said it had long observed Qatar's "hostile behavior", had raised the issue directly on various occasions, and had been patient before taking Monday's measure.

Qatar, an oil and gas producer, is also an American ally and hosts a large U.S. military base.

"All diplomatic efforts have been deployed to try to persuade Qatar to change its destructive activities ... of which Ethiopia has unequivocal evidence," it said. "Apparently blinded by arrogance ... Qatar has remained deaf to all our efforts."

The statement added that Qatar's hostility to Ethiopia "included the output of its media outlets".

The statement noted that Qatar consistently rejected such claims.