SPA - Jeddah:

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent a cable of condolences and sympathy to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, on the death of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Amir of the State of Qatar - may God have mercy on him.

His Majesty the King said: 'We learned with deep pain of the news of the death of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Amir of the State of Qatar - may God have mercy on him - who gave so much to his country and people. We send to Your Highness, your family, and the people of the sisterly State of Qatar our deepest condolences and sincere sympathy. We ask God Almighty to envelop him in His vast mercy and forgiveness, to admit him into His spacious paradise, to grant you patience and solace, and to protect you from all harm. "Indeed we belong to God, and indeed to Him we will return."'

Also, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent a cable of condolences and sympathy to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, on the death of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Amir of the State of Qatar - may God have mercy on him.

His Highness the Crown Prince said: 'I received with profound sorrow and grief the news of the death of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Amir of the State of Qatar - may God have mercy on him - who played a prominent role in the renaissance and prosperity of the sisterly State of Qatar. I extend to Your Highness and the family of the deceased my warmest condolences and most sincere sympathy, asking the Almighty and Most High to envelop him in His vast mercy and forgiveness, to admit him into His spacious paradise, and to reward him abundantly for what he offered to his people and country, and to protect you from all harm. He is All-Hearing, Responsive.'