Germany calls for diplomacy to resolve Qatar crisis, end blockade

FILE PHOTO: A traditional wooden fishing Dhow is seen in port near modern glass and steel buildings on the Doha skyline, Qatar February 9, 2010. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen/File Photo

WOLFENBUETTEL/BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - Germany called for greater diplomatic efforts to resolve the Qatar crisis and said Arab states should lift their blockade of the small Gulf state and avoid any escalation into violence.

"Along with our American colleagues but above all our colleagues in the region, we must try to find solutions, especially lifting the sea and air blockades," Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters in Wolfenbuettel, Germany.