Director general of Al Jazeera resigns

Wadah Khanfar, the director general of the Al Jazeera Network, is to quit his position after eight years heading the Qatar-based TV network.

Mr Khanfar leaves on a high note, having overseen Al Jazeera during its coverage of the Arab Spring, which propelled the network into the international spotlight, and earning it recognition from the likes of Hillary Clinton and John McCain.

"After 8 years of service leading Al Jazeera, I have just announced that I am moving on," Mr Khanfar said via his Twitter account earlier today.

Al Jazeera executives approached by The National did not immediately confirm the news. Mr Khanfar's Twitter account is "verified" as belonging to him.

Khanfar started his career with Al Jazeera in 1997, one year after it launched. He initially served a correspondent in South Africa, followed by spells in Afghanistan and Iraq, before being named chief of the Baghdad bureau.

He became managing director of the Al Jazeera Channel in 2003 and director general of the network in 2006.

bflanagan@thenational.ae