Arab League calls on UN Security Council to intervene on GERD impasse: Arab foreign ministers yesterday called on the UN Security Council to hold an “urgent session” to discuss the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said yesterday, Al Masry Al Youm reports.

The intervention came following an emergency Arab League meeting in Doha yesterday called by Egypt and Sudan. The two aim to ramp up pressure on Ethiopia as it prepares to resume unilaterally filling the dam next month.

“Gradual measures”: Arab countries could take “gradual measures” to support Egypt and Sudan, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during the press conference without giving further details, according to BBC Arabic.

Ethiopia issues stern rebuke: Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it “rejects the resolution in its entirety” and expressed “dismay” at what it called thye “misguided positions” of the Arab League and its “egregious” support for Egypt and Sudan’s position.

Egypt has already been making overtures to the UN, sending a letter to the Security Council last week to persuade it to intervene in the dispute.

The story is everywhere in the global press this morning from Bloomberg and the AP to Reuters and Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a number of discussions on the sidelines of yesterday’s meeting:

• An invitation to Qatar: Shoukry invited Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to visit Egypt as soon as possible. El Sisi received in late May an official invitation to Doha from the Qatari Emir, following the restoration of ties between both countries.
• Libya FM incoming: Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Al Mangoush is expected to visit Egypt in the coming days after being invited byu Shoukry for talks.

IN OTHER DIPLO NEWS- US Centcom chief in Cairo: Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki met with US Central Command chief Kenneth McKenzie to discuss US-Egypt military ties, the Armed Forces said in a statement. Zaki earlier held talks with Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the US National Guard Bureau, and signed a partnership agreement with the Texas Army National Guard.