“Qatar’s wealth, underpinned by the world’s third largest natural gas reserves, is a potent weapon in its quest for political influence in a Middle East undergoing transition,” analysts suggest:

Nowhere is this influence more clear than in Libya and …

“The gas-rich state of Qatar has spent as much as $3bn over the past two years supporting the rebellion in Syria, far exceeding any other government, but is now being nudged aside by Saudi Arabia as the prime source …

The Obama administration is today expected to raise concerns about Qatar’s funding of radical Islamists in the Syrian opposition, as the country’s ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (right), begins talks with President Barack Obama and US officials during …

The exiled leader of Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood has rejected accusations that the group is seeking to dominate rebel ranks in order to seize power in the post-Assad transition.

The group also denied that Islamist extremists were seizing large swathes …

President Obama has “doggedly resisted” US engagement in Syria, despite the killing of over 70,000 and the plight of over a million refugees, says a prominent analyst and former administration official.

“That is because Syria challenges a central aim of …

“Gas-rich Qatar threw Egypt another unconditional financial lifeline on Wednesday as the Arab world’s most populous nation struggles to secure an IMF loan to ease its deepening economic crisis,” Reuters reports:

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim …

“On the eve of a meeting with the Syrian opposition, Secretary of State John Kerry said that the Obama administration was weighing ‘stepped-up’ efforts to support the rebel fighters, and that such proposals had been ‘front and center’ in administration …

Syrian opposition figure Moaz Alkhatib (above, center) will address an Arab League meeting in Doha this week, despite announcing his resignation as head of the Syrian National Coalition, Reuters reports.

“The coalition is on verge of disintegrating,” said Amr …

“The State Department and USAID are increasing their humanitarian aid for Syria but have no intention of moving any of that money through the Syrian opposition coalition, as several senators have called for,” The Cable’s Josh Rogin reports:

U.S. …

Bahrain will begin reconciliation talks this weekend with opposition groups, Reuters reports, in an attempt to end two years of conflict over demands for democratic reform.

Opposition groups contacted by Reuters suggested they would attend the talks but cited differences …