He has been braced for serious criticism of his stewardship of News International by the Commons Culture Media and Sport select committee (see my note from a few weeks ago on how the MPs' verdict was central to James Murdoch's future at BSkyB).

BBC: Why James Murdoch is giving up BSkyB chair

But Sheikh Hamad said the sanctions were necessary if the international community were to see that the Arab countries were "serious", the Reuters news agency reports.

BBC: Syria unrest: Arab League adopts sanctions in Cairo