Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Police fire at protesters as unrest extends to Oman

Updated at 1:42 am on 28 February 2011

Police in Oman have fired rubber bullets on stone-throwing protesters in the industrial town of Sohar, killing two people.

The protesters are demanding political reforms in the Arabian peninsula state, and appear to have been inspired by recent events in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Bahrain.

Witnesses say the military has moved in to secure the area, Reuters reports.

The country's leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, reshuffled his cabinet on Saturday, changing six ministers a week after an earlier protest in the capital Muscat calling for political reform.

Witnesses said at least 1000 protesters had gathered for a second straight day in Sohar on Sunday before clashes erupted.

Protests were also taking place in the southern town of Salalah where demonstrators have been camped out since Friday near the office of a provincial governor.

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