After Tunisia, Egypt, Libya,Bahrain Riots Begin in Oman!
Protesters set a supermarket ablaze and rallied at two places in this seaside town in a third consecutive day of unrest that has included deadly clashes in the strategic Gulf nation.
Security forces sealed off main roads to Sohar, about 120 miles (200 kilometres) northwest of the capital of Muscat, in an attempt to isolate the protesters and keep crowds from swelling.
Witnesses said a supermarket was set on fire today and several hundred protesters mostly young men were rallying in the town's main roundabout, demanding higher salaries, jobs for unemployed youth and the dismissal of some government ministers.
By late afternoon, protests spread to Oman's second largest port in Sohar. Witnesses said about 500 protesters blocked trucks from entering the port, about 8 miles (12 kilometres) away from protest's focal point at the roundabout. Police did not respond to Monday's protests, witnesses said.
Oman, ruled by a powerful family dynasty, marks the latest flashpoint in the Arab world's challenges to authority and suggests that demonstrations could widen in the Gulf with protest rallies planned next month in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Oman shares control with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf the route for about 40 per cent of the world's oil-tanker traffic. Oman also plays an important role as a mediator between Iran and the West because of its strong ties to Tehran and Washington.
Security forces sealed off main roads to Sohar, about 120 miles (200 kilometres) northwest of the capital of Muscat, in an attempt to isolate the protesters and keep crowds from swelling.
Witnesses said a supermarket was set on fire today and several hundred protesters mostly young men were rallying in the town's main roundabout, demanding higher salaries, jobs for unemployed youth and the dismissal of some government ministers.
By late afternoon, protests spread to Oman's second largest port in Sohar. Witnesses said about 500 protesters blocked trucks from entering the port, about 8 miles (12 kilometres) away from protest's focal point at the roundabout. Police did not respond to Monday's protests, witnesses said.
Oman, ruled by a powerful family dynasty, marks the latest flashpoint in the Arab world's challenges to authority and suggests that demonstrations could widen in the Gulf with protest rallies planned next month in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Oman shares control with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf the route for about 40 per cent of the world's oil-tanker traffic. Oman also plays an important role as a mediator between Iran and the West because of its strong ties to Tehran and Washington.
