Qatari network Al Jazeera 'suffers cyber attack' amid Arab crisis

Al Jazeera is believed to have suffered a cyber attack after the news network vowed to maintain their independence.

The site tweeted: 'Al Jazeera Media Network under cyber attack on all systems, websites & social media platforms.'

It comes after the news network were accused of interfering in other countries' affairs through its reports.

The network's acting director-general Mostefa Souag dismissed these allegations on Thursday. He said: 'All this talk about Jazeera interfering in other countries' affairs is nonsense. We don't interfere in anybody's business, we just report.' 'If we bring (in) guests who are opposing certain governments, does that mean we are interfering in the countries' business? No. Al Jazeera's editorial policy is going to continue the same regardless of what happens with this event.'

The state-funded network is at the centre of the dispute in which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties and transport links on Monday with Qatar, which supplies natural gas to world markets.

Yemen, Libya's eastern-based government and the Maldives also cut ties with Qatar later. Qatar says the moves to isolate it over alleged ties to terrorism, which it denies, are endangering stability in the Gulf region.

Al Jazeera, founded in 1996 as part of Qatar's efforts to turn its economic power into political influence, won millions of viewers across the Arab world by offering uncensored debate rarely seen on other local broadcasters in the region.

Its talk shows hosted guests who challenged the wisdom of Arab rulers and adopted the role of supporter of the dispossessed. Reporters broke with a widespread taboo of the Arab news media by interviewing Israeli officials.

Earlier on Thursday Qatar called its tanks into action and warned its neighbours that it will open fire on any ships that come into its waters.