COUP IN QATAR?

Hamad (left), who has kidney problems.Tamim (right)Qatar hosts the largest U.S. air base in the Middle East.Expatriates, including Americans and Philippinos, form 85 per cent of the population of Qatar.The Qatar Investment Authority owns Harrods, the US embassy site in London and Miramax Films.Qatar is one of the few Arab states to have ties with Israel.Qatar has provided a base for exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, and is home to a newly opened office of Afghanistan's Taliban.

Taliban in Qatar, with US approval.

On 25 June 2013, the ruler of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, was apparently toppled.

Sheikh Hamad overthrew his own father in a bloodless coup in 1995.

"You are next". James Dobbins, US special envoy, meets Sheikh Hamad in Qatar on 23 June 2013. AFP photo.

Sheikh Hamad has played a key role in supporting the rebels in Syria.

Sheikh Hamad helped NATO to wreck Libya.Sheikh Hamad has helped to prop up President Morsi of Egypt.Qatar.

Sheikh Hamad has been replaced by his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

On 26 June 2013, Sheikh Tamim said that "As Arabs we reject splitting countries on a sectarian basis ... and because this split allows for foreign powers to interfere in the internal affairs of Arabs and influence them."

Sheikh Tamim steered clear of any mention of Syria.

He instead focused on the Palestinian issue, saying Qatar was committed to its struggle with Israel.

23 June 2013, Kerry meets Hamad in Qatar. Sheikh Tamim attended the expensive English private schools Sherborne and Harrow.

In 1998, he graduated from Sandhurst.

In April 2012, it was reported that the military in Qatar had attempted to topple Sheikh Hamad.