Barack Obama to Host Emir of Qatar at White House

US President Barack Obama will host the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the White House on February 24, officials said Friday.

"The President looks forward to discussing with Sheikh Tamim political, economic, and security issues of mutual concern to our two countries," the White House said in a statement.

The countries are sometimes uneasy allies.

Qatar is host to a large US military base and the United States has praised Doha for its role in trying to resolve unrest in Yemen, where militiamen recently seized power.

But some in the United States have accused Qatar of abetting hardline Islamic groups in Libya, Egypt and elsewhere.