Emirates gets new president

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – The United Arab Emirates appointed Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as its president Wednesday, hours after burying his father in a funeral that attracted thousands of mourners and nine heads of state to this desert nation on the Arabian Peninsula.

The succession was decided by the Supreme Council, which includes the leaders of the seven constituent emirates, their brothers and their crown princes.

Sheik Khalifa is the eldest son of Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the nation’s founding president, who died Tuesday at age 86 after transforming seven desert emirates into a regional oil and business hub.

After prayers at Sheik Sultan bin Zayed Mosque, Sheik Zayed’s body was carried out and driven slowly away as throngs of mourners rushed toward the silver van waving their dead leader’s photograph. A convoy of 30 vehicles went to the burial site at Zayed Grand Mosque as helicopters hovered overhead. Thousands lined the streets ahead of the funeral prayers, some of them reading from the Quran. Many streets were closed to traffic during the prayer service, which was televised live nationally and on Arab satellite stations.

Traffic police, army and special forces were out in force in Abu Dhabi. Businesses were shut and flags flew at half-staff at the start of the 40 days of mourning for Sheik Zayed, who was known to many Emiratis as a generous patriarch.

“Sheik Zayed was not just the president of the UAE, he was our father, our guide and our leader,” said 46-year-old Humaid Issa al-Ali. “Thanks to him, we live the way we do today, in prosperity and peace. … Words cannot express my sorrow, but this is God’s will.”

Calling him a distinguished statesman, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Sheik Zayed “devoted tireless efforts to building the state and nation and, in so doing, earned the respect of the population.”