UAE upset by critical Lebanese media, blames it on Qatar

Upset by embarrassing revelations about its policies in a pro-Hizballah newspaper, the UAE has issued an official warning to Lebanon, suggesting rival Qatar was behind the critical reporting.

The UAE embassy in Beirut on Sunday warned Lebanon against becoming a platform for "fake news", urging Lebanese officials to step in to censor "Qatari-funded" reports that it said "lacked credibility and professionalism". 

This comes as al-Akhbar, a leftwing Lebanese newspaper that supports Hizballah and the Syrian regime, had published a series of damaging diplomatic "leaks" exposing Abu Dhabi's policies in the region.

Al-Akhbar's latest installment on Saturday allegedly exposed a plot by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed - the effective ruler of the UAE - to subdue neighbour Oman for taking a neutral stance in the Saudi and UAE-led blockade on Qatar.

The UAE embassy denied the authenticity of the alleged leaked diplomatic cables from its diplomatic mission in Oman - published by al-Akhbar this weekend - that claim to show Abu Dhabi's mounting pressure on Oman.

"It has become clear that al-Akhbar's so-called 'Emirates Leaks' are part of its fabrications against the UAE embassies in Beirut and Washington, to tarnish the image of the UAE and its relations with Arab countries," a statement from the embassy said.

"Qatari money is behind these fabricated reports, taking advantage of the Lebanese media against the UAE."

The UAE embassy demanded Lebanese officials take "deterrent measures to prevent Lebanon from becoming a platform for fake news and to prevent the repetition of such violations....to serve suspicious Qatari goals," the statement added.

Lebanese has a relatively free media despite recent setbacks for the press. 

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar last June, over accusations Doha had supported extremist groups and being too close to rival Iran - charges Doha has denied.

The four countries enforced a blockade on Qatar, closing land, sea, and air links to the country. 

In addition to a diplomatic boycott and the blockade, the Saudi-led bloc has been leading a relentless public relations campaign against Doha.

Media outlets based in or funded by these countries are mostly owned by media groups linked to or owned by their governments, and have been enlisted in the anti-Qatar agenda.