Tillerson ends Gulf tour after regional crisis talks

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ended his Gulf tour on Thursday after four days of talks aimed at easing a dispute that began more than five weeks ago in the region, with little headway to report on the situation.

During his tour, Tillerson visited Qatar and Kuwait twice and met the foreign ministers of the four Arab countries boycotting Doha in the Saudi Arabian coastal city of Jeddah.

Tillerson met with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Thursday in Doha, the last leg of his visit. According to the Saudi-owned broadcaster Al Arabiya, he refused to answer any questions from reporters.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic relations and transportation links with Qatar on June 5, accusing the small Gulf state of supporting terrorism - a charge that Doha denies.

Following the political and economic boycott, the Arab quartet issued a list of 13 demands, which included downgrading ties with Iran, a regional rival of Saudi Arabia; the cessation of support for Islamist groups; and the closure of Doha-based broadcaster Al Jazeera.

The demands were rejected by Doha.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will head to the region on Friday. He is scheduled to visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE to hear their views and "contribute to the Kuwait mediation efforts."