Council Returns Ruler of Gulf Emirate to Power

The Persian Gulf federation’s Supreme Council on Saturday reinstated the ruler of Sharjah, who was ousted by his older brother in a bloodless coup earlier last week.

It also declared the older brother--Sharjah’s national guard commander--crown prince of the tiny, oil-rich state at the gulf’s southern end.

The Supreme Council, which is formed by the rulers of the emirates, issued a statement declaring Sheik Sultan ibn Mohammed al Kasimi “the legitimate ruler of Sharjah.” Sultan, 48, who has ruled since 1972, was in London when state-run Sharjah radio said he had “abdicated.”

The council also decreed that Sheik Abdulaziz, 50, who seized control of Sharjah on Wednesday, would hold the title of crown prince in the 210,000-resident emirate. It was not clear what powers Abdulaziz would have as crown prince.

Compromise Indicated

The council’s decision indicated a compromise had been reached between the two brothers, according to Arab diplomatic sources in Abu Dhabi, the federation capital and leading emirate among the seven.

There was no immediate public reaction from Abdulaziz, who had vowed to fight with his 3,000 guardsmen if Dubai, the second-strongest emirate, carried out its threat to intervene. His position had been that he would step down only at the wish of Sharjah’s ruling Kasimi clan.

Abu Dhabi, which at first appeared to endorse Abdulaziz’s move, is believed to have reversed itself for fear a Sharjah palace power struggle would be a dangerous precedent for the federation.

It most likely won over the supporters of Abdulaziz on that basis, the diplomatic sources said.

‘Heal the Rift’

The Supreme Council statement said efforts by a four-man committee “to heal the rift and restore concord and love” had brought “fruitful efforts”--implying Abdulaziz had agreed to end the standoff. But he remained secluded in a heavily guarded government building.

Abdulaziz, a wealthy businessman, said he replaced his younger brother with the backing of the Kasimi clan because of what he called financial mismanagement by Sultan.

He also said that Sharjah was staggering under a $1.3-billion debt and that he planned to call on rich Arab states in the region to help him restore economic stability.

Reporters returning from Dubai to Sharjah on Saturday night saw Sharjah national guardsmen, most of them Baluchi mercenaries, guarding the main highway.

Barricaded in Courthouse

Abdulaziz was barricaded inside the Royal Courthouse in central Government Square, military sources said. Steel-helmeted troops manned machine guns set in nests before the red-and-white, colonial-style building. A small helicopter stood inside court grounds, and sharpshooters were posted on all surrounding buildings.

“It is the perfect place for a last stand and then a quick getaway,” one Western diplomat said.

Earlier Saturday, Abdulaziz had appeared to relax his grip on the tiny emirate, reopening the airport, city center and newspaper offices for the first time since he seized power.