Qatar's new emir to meet opposition National Coalition on Tuesday

Qatar's new emir will meet the opposition National Coalition on Tuesday, Nizar al-Haraki, ambassador of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) to Doha said to al-Arab Qatari newspaper.

The newly-elected leader of the SNC, Ahmad al-Jarba, to visit Qatar within days to coordinate aid supplies, Haraki said to Reuters last week.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said last week that he will keep helping Syrian rebels until President Bashar al-Assad's rule ends, Haraki said, seeking to dampen speculation the rich Gulf state had scaled back its role in supporting the revolt, Reuters reported.

Sheikh Tamim has not made a detailed statement of foreign policy priorities following his accession last month, and some analysts have speculated the country is rethinking its backing for Arab Spring rebellions.

Haraki told Reuters Qatar would continue to support the coalition despite Sheikh Hamad's abdication.

"I met with Sheikh Tamim and congratulated him on his new role as emir, and I expressed the importance of continuing support to Syria and he told me that Qatar will continue to support Syria," Haraki said in a telephone interview iwth Reuters.

Haraki declined to be drawn on whether Qatar specifically was continuing to supply weapons to Syrian rebels groups, but said a number of Arab countries were providing military support.

He said he had no details on the equipment that was being sent.

He added that proof of continuing Qatari assistance came a few days ago when Qatar gave $5 million to the SNC to purchase humanitarian aid supplies.

Two week ago, Jarba met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz in the kingdom. No official details were released about that meeting.