Qatari “emir” to step down

Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, 61, has informed members of the ruling family of his decision to transfer power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, according to Express Tribune.

Qatar’s royal court said that the emir would address his people on Tuesday morning.

The “emir” came to power in a coup when he overthrew his own father Sheikh Khalifa in June 1995.

Diplomats said that over the past three years the emir has increasingly handed over military and security responsibilities to Tamim, who like his father was educated at the British military academy Sandhurst.

Analyst Neil Partrick, an expert on the Gulf, ruled out major changes in Qatar when Tamim, who was born in 1980, succeeds his father.

Qatar took part in the armed intervention in Libya and is actively supporting “rebel forces” in Syria.

M.D