AUTHORITIES in the oil and natural gas-rich Arab Gulf emirate of Qatar have briefed their foreign counterparts that the time has come for Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, the 33-year-old crown prince, to take over the leadership of the gas-rich Gulf state, The Daily Telegraph reported. The succession plan, which is due to be launched by the end of the month, will also see Hamad bin Jassim, the prime minister and one of the biggest investors in Britain, give up his post. Within weeks of that decision the royal court will announce that the emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, who has struggled with health problems, will cede powers to the Sandhurst-educated crown prince.