New Qatar ruler will keep backing Syrian rebels 'until Assad is ousted'

Qatar's new emir will keep helping Syrian rebels until President Bashar Al Assad's rule ends, Syria's opposition envoy to Doha said yesterday, seeking to dampen speculation that the Gulf state had scaled back its role in supporting the revolt.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has not made a detailed statement of foreign policy priorities following his accession last month, and some analysts have speculated the country is rethinking its backing for Arab Spring rebellions.

Under the previous emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar had been among the most prominent regional backers of Syria's rebels, providing them with military and financial support and calling for an Arab force to end bloodshed if international diplomatic efforts fail.

Nizar Al Haraki, ambassador of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) to Doha, said Qatar would continue to support the coalition despite Sheikh Hamad's abdication.

"I met with Sheikh Tamim and congratulated him on his new role as emir, and I expressed the importance of continuing support to Syria and he told me that Qatar will continue to support Syria," Mr Al Haraki said.

Mr Al Haraki declined to be drawn on whether Qatar specifically was continuing to supply weapons to Syrian rebels groups, but said a number of Arab countries were providing military support. He said he had no details on the equipment that was being sent.

He added that proof of continuing Qatari assistance came a few days ago when Qatar gave US$5 million (Dh18.36m) to the SNC to purchase humanitarian aid supplies.

Moreover the newly elected leader of the SNC, Ahmad Al Jarba, is planning to visit Qatar within days to coordinate aid supplies, Mr Al Haraki added.

Last week, Jarba met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz in the kingdom. No official details were released about that meeting.

In recent months, Saudi Arabia has prevailed imposed itself as the main outside force supporting the Syrian rebels, a move that may curb the influence of Qatari-backed Islamist militants.

Mr Al Haraki said in answer to a question that he did not expect Mr Al Jabra's visit to Qatar to cause diplomatic friction between the SNC and Saudi Arabia.

"Qatar and Saudi Arabia are both brotherly countries and have good relations and there are no sensitivities about Al Jarba coming to Doha," he said.

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Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.

Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.

The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.

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