The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani, sacked two Cabinet members and his own chief of staff yesterday amid a corruption scandal over fraudulent share dealings, the QNA news agency reported. However, no reason was given for the dismissals including any suggestion that the officials were involved in the scandal. The emir fired Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Mohammed ibn Issa Al-Muhannadi, without announcing a replacement. He also named Faisal ibn Abdullah Al-Mahmud as the new minister of religious affairs after sacking Mohammed Al-Manaa.The emir's private secretary, Sheikh Abderrahman ibn Saud Al-Thani, was promoted to the job of chief of staff to succeed Abdullah ibn Mohammed ibn Saud Al-Thani. Both men are members of the ruling family. The Qatari press reported last month that three unnamed ministers and several businessmen had been questioned by the chief prosecutor over alleged fraudulent activities