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Omanis Protest for 3rd Day in Key Industrial Town

February 28, 2011 · 205102 Comments2011-02-28+13%3A32%3A53Qalinle+Hussein

Omani nationals watch smoke rise from Lulu hypermarket in Sohar, February 28, 2011

DUBAI — Hundreds of Omanis have joined a third day of anti-government protests in a key industrial town where security forces engaged in a deadly street battle with demonstrators a day earlier.

The anti-government protesters gathered at a major traffic circle in the northwestern coastal town of Sohar Monday, blocking roads and setting fire to a supermarket. The activists are demanding more jobs, higher salaries and democratic reforms in the Gulf state, where absolute ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said has been in power since 1970.

Many protesters were angry that Omani police had opened fire at hundreds of people who demonstrated in the town Sunday, killing at least one person.

Omani nationals watch smoke rise from Lulu hypermarket in Sohar, February 28, 2011

Oman’s health minister says only one protester was killed Sunday when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who set fire to a police station and other buildings. Witnesses say at least two people were killed by police firing live bullets.

Anti-government protests are rare in Oman, which is the latest Arab nation to be hit by a wave of pro-democracy uprisings that have ousted the autocratic leaders of Egypt and Tunisia in recent weeks.

Sultan Qaboos has announced several steps in recent days to try to ease the public desire for protests. On Sunday, he pledged to create 50,000 government jobs and provide a monthly jobless benefit of $390 to help the unemployed. Sultan Qaboos also ordered a committee to draft proposals for boosting the power of an elected council that advises him in state affairs.

In another step Saturday, the Omani ruler announced a reshuffle of his Cabinet.

Source: VOA | 1 March 2011

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By Qalinle Hussein

Tags: Arabia, Jasmine, Oman, Protest, Revolution

mohamed says:

The Oman's ex Great Britain of HMG colonial historical background traditional culture, a mixture of
molded blend of traditional cultures eminated from YemenArab-Somali-Indian-African Zanzibar now Tanzania might in all likelihood be contagious to the Intifada(Uprisings) taken by Yemen Bahrain and
elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsular (AL) World. The new World order is faced with new dictating
events associated with the 21st/C challenges of Mother nature orderly powers. Let's see how new
Economical blocs could be founded to suit the western scientific technologies with less military
conflicts.
Cheers.

8:45 am on February 28, 2011

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- mohamed says:
  
  I wouldn't know how it fits but it might be ideal to channel Oman and Yemen into the Igad belt
  geopolitical basin outset more so as a group of jointly ecopolitical strait bloc.council countries
  including the E.A. Countries administered to civil societies headed by civilian Govts. similar
  to the developed world democracies devoid from military head leaderships and role modelled to more
  civilian demcracy rather than military dictatorship and arms arsnal conflicts.
  Cheers.
  
  3:32 pm on February 28, 2011
  
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