Military Coup Attempt in Qatar?
The MEMRI Blog notes that several Arab media sources are reporting a failed military coup attempt in the Persian Gulf country of Qatar.
Various Arab websites are reporting on the sudden firing of senior Qatari military officials after they staged a failed coup attempt.
According to the report on the liberal Saudi website Alssiyasi, Qatar’s chief of staff Hamad bin Ali Al-Attiya might also have been involved in the coup attempt.
The Jordanian online daily Al-Haqiqa Al-Douliya noted that following the coup attempt, the Qatari Emir is considering reducing the powers of senior regime officials, including of the prime minister and foreign minister Hamad bin Jasem Aal Thani.
After the Qatari chief of staff’s visit to Iran early last month, the Elaph website reported on disagreement among top Qatari officials on foreign policy.
Sources: elaph.com, July 13 and 30, 2009; alssiyasi.com, August 2, 2009; factjo.com, August 3, 2009