Dubai, Aug 05: Qatar's crown Prince gave up his
office today in favour of his younger brother, a court
statement said.
Crown Prince Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani,
25, will be replaced by prince Tamim, 24, the statement said.
No reason was given for the surprise move.
Prince Jassim, the third son of the emir, Sheik Hamad
bin Khalifa al Thani, was appointed crown prince in 1996, a
year after Sheik Hamad ousted his father in a bloodless coup.
Prince Jassim was head of the environment and
protectorates authority but held no ministerial positions. He
appeared with his father on several occasions and official
visits and has held official meetings with several senior
US Administration Officials, including defence secretaries
Donald Rumsfeld and William S Cohen.
When Qatar held a constitutional referendum in April,
photos of Prince Jassim were placed next to those of the emir
on various buildings.
The two princes are full brothers from the emir's
favoured wife, Sheika Mozza Bint Nasser al-Misnid.
Prince Tamim serves as head of the Qatari Olympic
committee. Both princes, like their father, graduated from
Britain's Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.
Bureau Report
