Two people were killed in Omani city of Sohar on February 27 after police fired rubber bullets into the crowd of hundreds of protestors who staged a demonstration demanding political reforms in the country. The protestors had gathered for a second straight day in a main square in Sohar before police tried to disperse them with tear gas and batons. Earlier, on February 26, about 500 protestors caused a huge traffic jam at the Globe roundabout, chanting slogans, “we want jobs,” we want end to corruption”, “we want long-serving ministers to go.” Most of the protestors in Sohar are believed to be jobless or lowly paid workers.1 Protests were also taking place in the southern town of Salalah where demonstrators have been camping near the office of a provincial governor.

Meanwhile, hundreds of anti-government protesters have blocked access to Bahrain’s parliament and forced officials to cancel a meeting of the upper chamber which is appointed by the ruler. The protesters are holding rallies at sensitive locations in the capital Manama to boost pressure on the monarchy following two weeks of protests and clashes. The session of the upper chamber was eventually called off after protesters formed a human chain to block the entrance. Bahrain’s monarchy is appealing for talks with opposition groups to try to end the crisis.2 Earlier on February 26, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain reshuffled his cabinet by dropping four ministers, taking in two new ministers and changing the portfolios of a few others.

• 1. “Two killed as riot rage engulfs Sohar”, Times of Oman, February 28, 2011 at http://www.timesofoman.com/echoice.asp?detail=41836&rand=PC4wU4s4NEK9w3M...
• 2. “Bahrain protesters block parliament”, Arab News, February 28, 2011 at http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article290255.ece