DOHA, 6 August 2003 — The emir of Qatar, a key US ally, named his fourth son as heir apparent yesterday, replacing an older son as crown prince.
Emir Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani had accepted a decision by Sheikh Jassim ibn Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani to quit as crown prince, according to a royal decree carried by the news agency QNA.
Younger brother Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani will replace him in the role. Both sons are in their 20s.
QNA said Sheikh Jassim sent a letter to his father explaining his decision to quit, saying “the time is appropriate to step down and prepare for a successor”.
The letter, carried by the agency, did not give specific reasons but Sheikh Jassim said he had “reluctantly” accepted the post in 1996 to help his country after authorities foiled a coup plot against his father and arrested dozens of people.
Sheikh Jassim is Sheikh Hamad’s third son. Sheikh Tamim, who heads Qatar’s Olympic committee, is his fourth. The emir’s eldest son is a businessman and his second is involved in Islamic charities. Neither has apparently shown any interest in becoming crown prince.
Qatar hosted the advance headquarters of US forces in the war that toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in April.
Under Sheikh Hamad, Qataris overwhelmingly approved a constitution that would make the country more democratic but keep power in the hands of the emir. In May, Qatar named the Gulf’s first woman Cabinet minister.
