Nigeria, July 12 -- The former Emir of Qatar, Hamad Al Thani, who ruled the Gulf country from 1995 to 2013, is dead.

He was 74.

An official statement on Sunday said the former ruler passed away "this morning."

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Mr Al Thani handed over to his son and current Emir of Qatar, Tamim Al Thani, who was then 33.

The late Mr Al Thani's tenure is remembered for the economic and social boom that Qatar witnessed. It was also during his tenure, in 1996, that Al Jazeera, a Qatar-funded global news organisation, was launched.

Details later.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Premium Times....