KUWAIT'S EMIR FOR WASHINGTON

KUWAIT'S ruler traveled to Washington on Monday for a working visit and to hold talks with US President Donald Trump, the state news agency KUNA announced on Sunday.

The White House said in a statement the leader would discuss trade, investment and security cooperation on their Sept 5 meeting.

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber aI Sabeh has led mediation efforts to resolve a year-long dispute between Gulf Arab neighbours after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic, trade and transport ties with Qatar.

The four countries accuse Doha of supporting terrorism and cosying up to regional foe Iran. Doha denies those charges and says the boycott is an attempt to impinge on its sovereignty .

Trump publicly sided with the Saudia and Emiratis early on in the crisis but then began pushing for a resolution to restore Gulf unity to maintain a united front against Iran.

Reuters reported in July that the  administration was quietly pushing ahead with a bid to to create a new security ans political alliance with six  Gulf Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, in part to counter  Iran's  expansion in the region, citing US and Arab officials.

The administration's hope is that the effort, tentatively known as the Middle East Strategic Alliance, might  be    discussed at a summit provisionally scheduled for Washington on Oct 12-13 , the  sources said, though the Qatar rift  could present a big obstacle. [Agencies]