Qatar claims news agency's website hacking linked to countries boycotting Doha

DOHA - Qatari Attorney General Ali Bin Fetais al-Marri has claimed that his country had evidence showing involvement of the countries which have cut ties with Doha in hacking of Qatar's state news agency.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates and their allies severed ties with Doha earlier this month over Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's alleged comments published on Qatar News Agency's website on May 23 which Doha claimed had been hacked.

In his comments, the Emir had allegedly described Iran as an Islamic power, criticised US President Donald Trump on his tough policy towards Iran and claimed to have good relations with Israel.

"Qatar has evidence that certain iPhones originating from countries laying siege to Qatar were used in the hack," the Qatari attorney general told reporters in Doha.

However, he did not reveal the name of responsible countries allegedly involved in the hacking that caused the Arab rift.

Arab countries boycotted Qatar after accusing it of supporting terrorism and spreading the agenda of their arch-rival Iran in the region.

Marri termed the action of Arab countries regarding designating individuals and entities as terrorist "baseless".