DOHA: Qatar is investigating an alleged attempt to manipulate its currency during the early weeks of a Gulf political crisis, now in its sixth month, a government spokesman said Sunday.

The director of Qatar’s government communications office said an unnamed global financial institution — partly owned by United Arab Emirates investors — had been instructed to stop trading Qatari riyals across Europe and Asia.

Saif al-Thani’s claim is the latest development in an increasingly complex and bitter crisis.

Since June 5, Qatar has been diplomatically, politically and economically boycotted by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt over charges Doha supports terrorism.—AFP