Qatar: Celebrations mark national day

By Ahmed Yusuf </p> <p>DOHA (AA) – Qatar on Tuesday marked its national day with a huge celebration featuring military parades before Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and with the attendance of Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.</p> <p>The celebrations in the capital Doha were also witnessed by former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani as well as a number of Qatari ministers and citizens.</p> <p>Dec. 18 commemorates the day in 1878 that Emir Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of Qatar, came to power.</p> <p>Marking the occasion, Doha annually organizes massive celebrations in various Gulf states on Dec. 8-20.</p> <p>This year’s celebrations carry the slogan “Qatar will remain free,” inspired by a poem written by the founding emir also included in Qatar’s national anthem. </p> <p>Besides the Qatari Armed Forces, the parades included the participation of Qatar’s Interior Ministry. </p> <p>The large military parade featured armored vehicles and radar equipment purchased by the Qatari armed forces from various Turkish defense firms. </p> <p>The parade also included the well-known Turkish Armed Forces Mehteran Unit. </p> <p>