DOHA, Oct 14: Qatar's former emir Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani returned to Doha on Thursday to attend his wife's funeral, his first time in the country since he was deposed by his son in a 1995 palace coup.

"The emir-father Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani returned to Doha this morning. Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani led (members of the ruling family) who greeted him," the official QNA news agency reported.

The use of the word "returned" left open the possibility that he would remain in the country after the funeral of his wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Ali bin Saud bin Abdul Aziz al-Thani.

Newspapers on Thursday published news of the death of Sheikha Mozah, who was not the mother of the current emir. The "emir-father", as he is known here, had not returned to Qatar since he was overthrown by the current ruler, Sheikh Hamad, in June 1995, staying mostly in Europe.

The current emir and his father have been reconciled after settling a multi-billion-dollar financial dispute. -AFP