Tuesday, Mar 08, 2011

Gulf News

Royal Order scraps National Economy Ministry

Muscat In a sweeping cabinet reshuffle yesterday, the third in the last 10 days, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed of Oman dropped 12 ministers and appointed six new faces from the countrys 84-member Shura Council.

He also issued a Royal Order scrapping the National Economy Ministry.

Oman has witnessed unprecedented demonstrations since January 17 with protesters demanding the removal of two senior ministers, Ahmad Bin Abdul Nabi Macki and Maqbool Bin Ali Bin Sultan.

Macki was the minister of national economy and Maqbool was the minister of commerce and industry. Maqbool, who was moved to transport and communications ministry in the first reshuffle on February 26 has now been dropped.

Protesters in Sohar, Salalah and Muscat have been pressing for, among other demands, a complete cabinet reshuffle.

One killed in Yemen

Meanwhile in Yemen, government supporters attacked protesters, killing one person. Several people were also injured, witnesses said as embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh called for a national dialogue in an attempt to quell protests.

He issued the call for a national conference yesterday after a meeting of top political and security chiefs. The state-run news agency said the conference on Thursday will include thousands of representatives from across Yemens political spectrum.

The opposition swiftly rejected the call with opposition leader Yassin Syed Numan saying there would be no dialogue unless Saleh agrees to step down by the end of this year.

Regional developments

In Bahrain, pro-democracy activists protested at the US embassy yesterday, calling for Washington to press the authorities for democratic reform.

Dozens of activists gathered at a fence set up in front of the embassy, chanting slogans.

In Saudi Arabia, authorities released Shiite cleric Tawfiq Al Amir, who was arrested on February 27 for calling for a constitutional monarchy and equal rights, two activists said.

In Kuwait, youth groups will take to the streets today to demand the removal of the prime minister.

The protesters want Prime Minister Shaikh Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah to be replaced, and some demand the appointment of a politician from outside the Al Sabah family.

By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief

Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.