1.   He is the second of the three sons of the late emir of Bahrain, Sheik Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

2.   Last December, the late emir had revealed plans to appoint more citizens to the council, which has no legislative powers.

3.   Pro-Western governments in the region lavished praise on the late emir.

4.   The son of the late emir, Sheik Hamad was educated at British and U.S. military academies.

5.   The son of the late emir, Hamad was educated at British and U.S. military academies.

6.   The prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, is the brother of the late emir.