AKIPRESS.COM - Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, the former emir of the Gulf nation of Qatar who was deposed by his son in a bloodless palace coup, died on Sunday.

The emiri diwan, or royal court, announced the death of the 84-year-old former ruler on Monday. State TV quickly cut from its regular programming, airing Quranic recitations late into the night.

The current emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the deceased ruler's grandson, declared three days of mourning in the energy-rich nation, which juts into the Persian Gulf off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia and will host the 2022 soccer World Cup.