Qatar's new emir seeks cooperation

Qatar's new emir on Wednesday said his country seeks strong ties with "all governments" in his first speech since taking power. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, in a short televised address to the nation, said Qatar "rejects divisions in Arab societies on sectarian lines," in reference to Sunni-Shiite tensions convulsing the region. "We seek to preserve relations with all governments and countries and we respect all sincere, active and effective political directions in the region but we do not support one side over the other," said the 33-year-old emir. Earlier, Sheikh Tamim appointed a new prime minister to make his mark with a cabinet reshuffle. The current Interior Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Naser al-Thani, replaced the outgoing PM and FM Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, a day after Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani handed power to his son. The new ruler allowed Sheikh Abdullah bin Naser to keep his interior ministry position, and appointed the current state minister for foreign affairs, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Atiyah as the new foreign minister. Despite the changes, the legislative make-up is still sketchy. On Tuesday evening, Sheikh Tamim extended the duration of the Shura Council, which means elections which were expected to take place in the next six months have been delayed. These elections will be the first for the Shura Council, which elects 30 members out of the total of 45 members, while the rest are appointed by the emir, as outlined in the 2003 constitution.