DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar's ruler said Monday he plans to transfer power to his 33-year-old son, the Gulf nation's crown prince, a report said, in what would mark a rare transition of authority in a region where most leaders remain until death.
[...] a transfer will jolt the ruling fraternity across the Western-backed Gulf Arab states by ushering a new generation into leadership ranks dominated by old guard figures, such as the 90-year-old King Abdullah in Saudi Arabia.
Qatar's reach is further extended by its global investment strategies — ranging from sports clubs such as football's Paris Saint-Germain to aid for debt-burdened Greece and Italy — and its role as mediator in conflicts such as Sudan's Darfur region and regional disputes including Palestinian political rifts.
While no immediate policy changes would be expected under the crown prince, a possible transition could include the departure of Sheik Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, the country's highly influential prime minister and foreign minister.
[...] a transfer will jolt the ruling fraternity across the Western-backed Gulf Arab states by ushering a new generation into leadership ranks dominated by old guard figures, such as the 90-year-old King Abdullah in Saudi Arabia.
Qatar's reach is further extended by its global investment strategies — ranging from sports clubs such as football's Paris Saint-Germain to aid for debt-burdened Greece and Italy — and its role as mediator in conflicts such as Sudan's Darfur region and regional disputes including Palestinian political rifts.
While no immediate policy changes would be expected under the crown prince, a possible transition could include the departure of Sheik Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, the country's highly influential prime minister and foreign minister.
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