http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/52ca6982-e2c4-11df-8a58-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1O7Lpt6PB
Rival for Ras al-Khaimah throne leaves emirate
By Simeon Kerr in Ras al-Khaimah
Published: October 28 2010 22:25 | Last updated: October 28 2010 22:25
Sheikh Khalid bin Saqr al-Qassimi, pretender to the throne of Ras al-Khaimah, left the emirate as a succession crisis reached its denouement on Thursday.
On Wednesday Sheikh Khalid’s younger brother, Sheikh Saud, was confirmed as ruler of Ras al-Khaimah after their father, Sheikh Saqr, succumbed to a long illness. Sheikh Saqr had ruled the small but strategically important member of the United Arab Emirates for 62 years.
The transition of power in Ras al-Khaimah had been preordained in 2003, when Sheikh Saud replaced Sheikh Khalid as crown prince.
But the return of Sheikh Khalid, who has spent little time in the emirate since his demotion, prompted the UAE security forces to make a public display of strength to underline federal support for the new ruler. They also want to prevent any outbreak in violence that would tarnish the federation’s reputation for political stability.
This week’s machinations echo the rise to power of Sheikh Saqr in 1948, when the then-ruler was temporarily trapped in his residence by armed Bedouin as his family initiated a palace coup.
Sheikh Khalid slipped into Ras al-Khaimah with an armed entourage on the night his father died, but was quickly isolated by federal forces.
A person close to Sheikh Khalid said his head of security, Scott Fishback, a former British army soldier, and the armed guards had been removed from the palace and their whereabouts were unknown. Sheikh Khalid did not attend his father’s funeral on Wednesday. The official line, confirmed by independent sources in the emirate, is that he made unacceptable preconditions for his attendance. The person close to Sheikh Khalid says he was not allowed to attend.
For years, the ousted crown prince has campaigned for his return to power, lobbying politicians in Washington with claims that his brother has tolerated undue Iranian influence in the emirate, which traditionally enjoys and trade links with the Islamic republic.
On Wednesday, the UAE supreme council gave its full support to Sheikh Saud. In reaction, Sheikh Khalid issued a statement that he would only accept the constitutional will of the whole family and the tribes, “not a decision taken by others for their own economic benefit”.
Sheikh Khalid has some allies in Ras al-Khaimah’s prominent Khatri tribe, but there have only been limited displays of support for him over the past two days.
Theodore Karasik, of the Institute for the Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, says the question now is how much noise Sheikh Khalid will make as the federal authorities move to tie up the loose ends.
“He has the support of some Ras al-Khaimah tribes and UAE figures but how are officials going to react to possible continued foreign interference in domestic issues?” he said. “How events play out will be interesting: the concept of national unity is being tested.”
