Protests in Oman Enter Third Day

Protesters in Oman returned to the streets for the third day on Monday demanding jobs and political reform. A doctor told Reuters that six people have died in clashes between protesters and police. The government confirmed only one death.

On Monday, hundreds of protesters in the city of Sohar blocked the road to an industrial port and looted a supermarket. Peaceful protests have also been held in the capital of Muscat where hundreds gathered outside a state complex, reports Reuters.

In Oman, where there are no political parties, political protests first erupted last week calling for reform. Ruling Sultan Qaboos bin Said shuffled his cabinet on Saturday in response to the protests. On Sunday, as protests continued, he promised to create 50,000 jobs and provide unemployment benefits of $390 a month. He also promised to study expanding the power of the country’s quasi-parliamentary advisory council.

The oldest independent state in the Arab world, Oman has strong political and military ties with the United State