Saudi Arabia and Bahrain announced on Monday they were severing diplomatic ties with Qatar in a fresh escalation of tensions between Gulf partners.

Saudi news agency SPA said Riyadh cut diplomatic ties and closed borders with its neighbour to "protect its national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism."

Bahrain news agency said the tiny kingdom was cutting ties with Doha over its insistence on "shaking the security and stability of Bahrain and meddling in its affairs."