Iraq's top leaders send condolences to Qatar emir over father's death

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's President Nizar Amidi, Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zeydi and Parliament Speaker Hebib al-Halbusi have sent separate condolence messages to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani following the death of his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The Iraqi Presidency said Amidi expressed Iraq's solidarity with "brotherly Qatar" in its grief, on behalf of the government and people, and extended his condolences to Sheikh Tamim, his family and the Qatari people. Prime Minister al-Zeydi conveyed his sincere condolences to the Qatari government and people in his message and asked God to grant mercy to the deceased, according to the statement. Parliament Speaker al-Halbusi separately expressed full solidarity with the emir and the people of Qatar during their time of mourning. The three messages concluded with the Islamic phrase "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" ("Indeed we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return"), a traditional expression of condolence in Islam. No further details on the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani were immediately available.