Condolences pour in from Arab leaders

His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, has sent a condolence cable to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the death of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.

King Abdullah II expressed his profound sorrow in the name of the Kingdom and Jordanian government, on the death of Sheikh Saqr Al Qasimi. He extended his condolences to the bereaved family of the late Sheikh Saqr Al Qasimi. May Allah rest his soul in peace.

The Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Mousa, offered his condolence to the UAE leadership, government and people on the death of the former Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

He said in a statement issued by the Arab League that "We received today (Wednesday) the sad news of demise of Sheikh Saqr Al Qasimi. May Almighty Allah rest his soul in peace".

Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak has sent a cable of condolences to Sheikh Khalifa on the death of Sheikh Saqr.

Mubarak expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to Sheikh Khalifa and the government and people of the UAE.

He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest Sheikh Saqr's soul in peace.

On Wednesday afternoon, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, performed the funeral prayers of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the late ruler of Ras Al Khaimah who passed away early in the morning.

The funeral prayers were offered at the Eid Mussala in the Khuzam district of Ras Al Khaimah. Sheikh Saqr was later laid to rest in the ruling family's graveyard in Al Oraibi.

The funeral and burial rituals were also attended by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah; His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman; His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah; crown princes, deputy rulers, other sheikhs, ministers, senior officials and mourners.

His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi has been appointed as the new Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah after the death of Sheikh Saqr.

The UAE Federal Supreme Council has congratulated Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi on succeeding his father.

In a statement issued by the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs, the Council expressed its full support for Sheikh Saud as Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and as a Member of the Supreme Council, as he continues his father's legacy of supporting the federation of the UAE alongside his fellow Supreme Council Members and Rulers.

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan offered heartfelt condolences to Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi over the death of Sheikh Saqr.

In a telephone call he made to Sheikh Saud, Sheikh Khalifa wished him success in his mission as Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

The Dubai Ruler’s Court has also offered its condolences on the death of Sheikh Saqr.

Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi offered his condolences to Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi on the death of Sheikh Saqr.

Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Princes of Sharjah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, other sheikhs, high ranking officials, diplomats accredited in the UAE, and mourners offered their condolences to Sheikh Saud.

The Fujairah Ruler’s Court also offered its condolences on the demise of Sheikh Saqr.

The Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, and FNC members offered their condolences on the death of Sheikh Saqr.

"The FNC extends its sincere condolences to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Emirates, the sons and the family of the late Sheikh Saqr, the Al Qawasim family and the people of the UAE," a statement said.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Khalifa received cables of condolence from Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed, Sultan of Oman, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, President Omer Hassan El Beshir of Sudan, and Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak on the death of Sheikh Saqr.

Sheikh Mohammed also received a similar cable from the Sudanese President.

King Abdullah II of Jordan has sent a condolence cable to Sheikh Khalifa on the death of Sheikh Saqr. He expressed his profound sorrow on behalf of the Kingdom and Jordanian government. He extended his condolences to the bereaved family of the late Sheikh Saqr.

The Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Mousa, has offered his condolence to the UAE leadership, government and people on the death of Sheikh Saqr. He said in a statement by the Arab League that "we received today the sad news of demise of Sheikh Saqr Al Qasimi. May Almighty Allah rest his soul in peace".

Sheikh Saqr belonged to the Al Qasimi dynasty that ruled the northern part of the Greater Oman Region, following the fall of Ya’aribah state and emergence of Al Busayidi state in Suhar and Muscat in 1747.

He was born in Ras Al Khaimah city in 1920, where he was brought up in an Islamic Arabic environment under the care of his father, Sheikh Mohammad bin Salim, who ruled the emirate between 1917-1919.

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