The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikin Zayed, died yesterday

President &to= english.pravda.ru/world/2002/04/09/27445.html ' target=_blank>Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister &to= english.pravda.ru/world/2002/09/04/35969.html ' target=_blank>Shaukat Aziz expressed shock and condoled the demise of the president and founding father of United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahayan. Sheikh Zayed, was around 90 and governed the seven-member Gulf federation since 1971. In a message from Bhutan, the prime minister said Pakistan had lost a great friend. He described the late president as a great philanthropist and praised his services for the welfare of Muslims around the world. He said Sheikh Zayed had funded numerous welfare and development projects across Pakistan. Pakistan Muslim League’s president, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, chief minister Punjab Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi and secretary general, Mushahid Hussain, also condoled the death. In separate messages, they termed the death a great loss to the UAE and to the people of Pakistan. They said the Sheikh was well known across Pakistan for his philanthropic work and his death had caused great sorrow to the people of Pakistan, reports the Daily Times. According to the Scotsman, &to= english.pravda.ru/diplomatic/2001/12/24/24321.html ' target=_blank>Sheikin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan , the president of the &to= english.pravda.ru/diplomatic/2001/09/22/15894.html ' target=_blank>United Arab Emirates, died yesterday after more than three decades in power. He was 86. Sheikh Zayed, who had been absolute ruler of the UAE since it was formed in 1971, had been ill for several years. He had received a kidney transplant in August 2000. His eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, has been heir apparent since 1969, after his father named him crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE and the richest of the seven emirates. Observers in the region have long anticipated an eventual power struggle between the ruling families of Abu Dhabi and Dubai following the death of Sheikh Zayed. The capital’s economy is driven by the oil industry while Dubai relies heavily on trade and tourism. Any unrest in the Emirates following Sheikh Zayed’s death could revolve around which state gains control of the treasury, which was originally designed to pass between the member states but has long remained under Abu Dhabi’s control. Arab leaders, who rushed to eulogize Zayed, and foreign heads of state were expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi for the funeral. A smooth transfer of power was expected. Under the Constitution, Dubai's ruler, Vice President Sheik Maktoum bin Rashed al-Maktoum, will take over automatically until the Supreme Council -- on which sit rulers of the seven emirates making up the UAE -- meets within 30 days and elect a successor. Zayed's eldest son, Sheik Khalifah, who is the crown prince and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, will succeed him as the ruler of Abu Dhabi. He also is expected to be elected by the Supreme Council as UAE president, tells World peace Herald.

Speak your mind on Pravda.ru forum