Qatar's ruler visits Tunisia after diplomatic spat

TUNIS, Nov 22 (Reuters) Qatar's ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani today flew to Tunisia to meet President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, amid a diplomatic spat over broadcasts by Qatar-based Al Jazeera television.

The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and international issues of common interest during the ''fraternity and courtesy visit'', Tunisian state news agency TAP said.

It did not say whether the two men broached the disagreement over Al Jazeera. Last month Tunisia closed its embassy in Qatar and withdrew its diplomats to protest at what Tunis called bias by the channel against the North African country's government.

The move came days after Al Jazeera broadcast remarks by Tunisian dissident Moncef Marzouki calling for peaceful resistance to the Tunisian government.

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