Qatar Sends Gas Aid to Egypt

Qatar on Friday announced it has shipped a consignment of liquefied natural gas as aid for the Egyptian people, in its first such gesture since president Mohammed Morsi's overthrow.

State news agency QNA said the LNG shipment was loaded on Thursday and was headed for Egypt on a gas tanker.

The shipment was part of aid decided by Doha "to help reduce the impact of the energy crisis on the Egyptian people" in the midst of their country's political unrest, an official said, quoted by QNA.

He said the shipment would help "supply power plants hit by gas shortages during the summer season and at a time of high electricity consumption."

Qatar's aid follows packages worth $12 billion in assistance to Egypt's interim government announced by fellow Gulf states Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

Gas-rich Qatar was a major financial supporter of Egypt under the presidency of Morsi, who the army toppled on July 3 following a wave of popular protests against the Islamist president.