Erdogan: We're gonna help Qatar

Turkey's president, Recep Tayip Erdogan, today begins a two-day tour, withties visiting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, while continuing regional risks.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and other countries have severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, due to suspicions that it finances Islamic extremists and has close relations with regional rival Iran. Qatar has dismissed the charges.

Mr. Erdogan today is scheduled to meet with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and then stay in Kuwait, as this country is mediating in crisis. President Erdogan is expected tomorrow to complete his tour with a visit to Qatar. International efforts to overcome the crisis, including involving the United States, have so far failed. Since the crisis began in June, Turkey has sent soldiers to Qatar and continues to send supplies of food to help Qatar, which is a small but wealthy Gulf country. It is believed that Turkey and Qatar support Islamic groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, since Gulf states are seen as a threat to their regimes.