Two Dead as Protests Spread to Oman

Two people have died as protests hit their second day in normally quiet Oman, reports Reuters, noting that police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into crowds. There were unsubstantiated reports that police used live ammunition. "Police and anti-riot units moved against this subversive group to protect citizens and their property, which led to some injuries," said Oman's state news agency, which did not mention deaths. Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who has ruled the tiny nation with absolute power for four decades, yesterday reshuffled his Cabinet in a move to defuse the situation. (More Oman stories.)