Qatar forms ministry of environment and climate change in reshuffle

Qatar, the world's top exporter of liquefied natural gas, has created a new ministry for the environment and climate change under a government reshuffle announced on Tuesday by the emir of the Gulf state.

The decision comes as the UN climate change conference is due to convene in Glasgow, Scotland, at the end of the month.

Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani also appointed Ali Bin Ahmad Al-Kuwari as finance minister in a government reshuffle, according to a statement issued by the emiri court on Tuesday, following the previous minister's arrest in May.

Al-Kuwari had been serving as commerce and industry minister and as acting finance minister before the reshuffle.

His predecessor in the finance ministry, Ali Sherif al-Emadi, was arrested over embezzlement allegations and stripped of his duties in May. Reuters has previously been unable to contact him while he is in police custody.

(Reuters)