Qatar's Emir visits Syria, first head of state to visit Damascus since Assad's fall

Reuters: DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani visited Damascus on Thursday and met newly declared transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa, in the first visit by a head of state to the Syrian capital since Bashar al-Assad was toppled on Dec. 8.

The Qatari emir was received at Damascus International Airport by Sharaa, leading a senior delegation that included the defence and foreign ministers.

Sheikh Tamim stressed in his meeting with Sharaa "the urgent need to form a government that represents all segments of the Syrian people", the Qatari royal court said.

Sharaa was declared transitional head of state and empowered to form a temporary legislative council on Wednesday, during a meeting of commanders of military groups that took part in the lightning offensive against Assad.

He has pledged to embark on a political transition including a national conference, an inclusive government and eventual elections, which he has said could take up to four years to hold.

The kings of Jordan and Saudi Arabia also congratulated Sharaa on Thursday his new position.

Sharaa captured Damascus as leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist rebel faction that was affiliated to al Qaeda until it severed ties in 2016.

'A new chapter'

Qatar long backed the Syrian opposition to Assad.

In a joint press conference with Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed al-Khulaifi, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani said: "The Syrian people won't forget Qatar's committed position while we open a new chapter in a new Syria".

The Qatari and Syrian officials discussed a comprehensive framework for post-war reconstruction in Syria, Shibani said.

Khulaifi said Qatar hopes to increase aid to Syria and continue to offer support when it comes to electricity and the country's infrastructure.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Damascus earlier in January, and said natural gas-rich Qatar would supply Syria with 200 megawatts of electricity, which would be gradually increased.

Qatar said in December it would reopen its embassy in Damascus after a more than 13-year closure.

Qatar shut its embassy in July 2011 after withdrawing its ambassador in protest at Assad's deadly crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, violence that spiralled into a protracted civil war.

Relations between Syria and many fellow Arab states as well as Western powers have been thawing under the country's change of leadership, which ended Damascus' close alliance with Russia and Iran.