Qatar sentences Jordan reporter to death for spying

 A Qatari court sentenced to death a Jordanian journalist on Tuesday after convicting him of spying for Jordan, amid increasing tension between the two Arab states, Qatar-based al-Jazeera television reported.

 It said Firas Majali, who had been arrested in January on charges including military espionage, had 15 days to appeal the sentence under Qatari law.

 Majali was shown being led away handcuffed after the verdict was read. His lawyer was not immediately available for comment.

 Qatar said in September that Majali had provided Jordan with information on the status of U.S. troops in Qatar, along with economic and social data.

 About 3,000 U.S. troops are based in Qatar, a maverick Gulf state which has angered many Arab states for developing trade ties with Israel and for hosting the controversial al-Jazeera satellite television channel.

 In August, Jordan recalled its ambassador to Qatar in a diplomatic row over a programme broadcast by Jazeera that was seen as an affront to the Hashemite ruling family.

 The move came 3 days after Jordanian authorities closed the local Amman office of the popular station. In the programme, Arab dissidents accused the royal family of betraying Arab aspirations in Iraq and Palestinian territories.