GCC suspends EU free-trade talks

---

DUBAI, Dec 24 (AFP): The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has suspended talks with the European Union over a free-trade agreement, the GCC's secretary general said yesterday.
"We have informed the European side of the suspension of negotiations on a free-trade accord," said Abderrahman al-Attiyah, interviewed by telephone in Muscat, where he is preparing for the annual GCC summit. "We are suspending the negotiations until the European side agrees to sign the (most recent) draft accord," adding that the petroleum-rich monarchies had "made many concessions and responded favourably to the EU's many demands."
The decision came as no surprise, with member nation Qatar warning on December 15 that a suspension was in the offing if an impasse in the 20-year-old negotiations continued.