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Omanâ€™s Sultan Shuffles Cabinet for Third Time

08 March 2011 02:52 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Oman’s Sultan Qaboos has changed his Cabinet for the third time in less than two weeks to appease anti-government protesters demanding political reforms and an end to government corruption, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.
The sultan announced Monday new heads for several ministries, including interior and commerce.
On Saturday, Sultan Qaboos appointed a new minister of the royal court and minister of the royal office in addition to the changes he made to his cabinet a week earlier.
The Omani leader also has ordered the creation of 50,000 government jobs, a new government advisory committee and higher unemployment benefits in an effort to ease public anger fueling protests.
There have been numerous demonstrations and sit-ins throughout the country since the end of February. Some of the protests have resulted in clashes with security forces. The Omani government says one demonstrator died in the unrest, but media reports quote unofficial estimates with higher casualty numbers.
Protesters have not been calling for Sultan Qaboos to step down, but rather, to institute reforms and end government corruption. There have been many rival demonstrations held in support for the Omani leader throughout the country.
Meanwhile, some 200 employees of the flag carrier Oman Air have staged a protest, demanding higher salaries.