Qatar scraps National Day festivities over Aleppo

Qatar's ruler announced Wednesday that the Gulf state will call off its National Day celebrations next week out of solidarity with the people of Syria's war-ravaged Aleppo.

The decision to scrap the celebrations came directly from the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, said a statement carried on state media.

It was taken "in solidarity with our people in the city of Aleppo, who are subjected to the worst kind of repression and torture, displacement and genocide", said the Qatar News Agency.

Qatar's national day falls on December 18, to mark the founding of the state in 1878.

The celebrations usually involve a parade in the centre of the capital Doha, dancing and a huge fireworks display.

The final of the 2022 football World Cup to be hosted by Qatar will be played on December 18.

Qatar has provided arms to rebel Sunni groups during Syria's five-year conflict and houses a Syrian opposition "embassy" in Doha.

Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said Tuesday that the war in Syria would not end if the regime recaptured the country's second city Aleppo.

Nizar al-Haraki, ambassador of the Syrian opposition coalition in Doha, told AFP that the decision to cancel the celebrations was "a dignified humanitarian gesture and a strong and positive message of solidarity".

He added that he had recently spent two days in Aleppo

Source: AFP