Oman: Demonstrations Persist Through Weekend

More than 150 demonstrators rallied outside of government buildings in the Omani capital of Muscat on Saturday.  The demonstrations were in response to the police crackdown in the northern industrial port city of Sohar over the past week.  Last Tuesday, police removed about 100 demonstrators who had camped out in two of the city’s major roundabouts for five weeks. In response, about 400 demonstrators protested in the city last Friday, culminating in clashes between demonstrators and police officers who employed tear gas, rubber bullets and according to some reports, live ammunition. Several people were injured and one man died as a result of a head injury from a rubber bullet.  Reports conflict as to whether he is the second or third person to die as a result of the unrest. In addition, some 60 demonstrators who were arrested on Friday were reportedly released this weekend.  While protests have called for increased political freedoms, they have fallen short of calling for the removal of  Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who removed twelve cabinet ministers last week.