Report: Doha hasn't been able to open Washington's doors to Bassil

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has expressed relief over his “firm relation” with Qatar, its support for him and its efforts to lift the U.S. sanctions off him, a media report said on Thursday.

But according to ad-Diyar newspaper, Bassil has said in meetings with his friends that Doha “has not been able until now to open Washington’s doors to him, despite the intervention of (Qatar’s ruler) Emir Tamim.”

“The U.S. response was that the measures against Bassil are judicial and no one can interfere in files related to lifting sanctions except through a judicial course,” the daily added.

As for the presidential file, Bassil is still rejecting Suleiman Franjieh’s election as president and “has not so far accepted all the advices that have been given to him from allies and friends to ease his stance, although he is stressing the depth of his relation with Hezbollah and coordination in the various fields,” ad-Diyar said.