Sultan Qaboos of Oman on Monday sacked his economy and interior ministers in a major cabinet reshuffle after weeks of anti-government protests in the strategic Gulf state, state television said."The Sultan of Oman has ordered a reshuffle of the council of ministers," a television announcer said, before reading the names of members of the reshaped cabinet. Economy Minister Ahmad bin Abdel Nabi Mekki and Interior Minister Saud bin Ibrahim al-Busaidi were the biggest heads to roll, along with Trade and Industry Minister Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan. Mekki's ministry was abolished altogether, while Busaidi was replaced by civil service minister Faisal bin Said al-Busaidi, according to state news agency ONA. The reshuffle had been expected after Sultan Qaboos on Saturday sacked two ministers in response to protesters' grievances, which include corruption and a the slow pace of democratic reform. One protester was killed in clashes with police in the northern industrial city of Sohar last week, but Oman has been spared the violent tumult that has gripped regional states such as Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and neighbouring Yemen. A peaceful sit-in at a roundabout in Sohar entered its ninth day Monday with activists demanding the sacking of Mekki and Sultan among others. One of the protesters, Ali Habib, told AFP a reshuffle was not enough and corrupt ministers needed to face justice. "We want corrupt officials to be brought to justice and put under house arrest," he said in response to the news. Demonstrators had "no problems" with Sultan Qaboos himself, he added, but intended to escalate their protests with a general strike called for Tuesday. Another crowd has maintained an anti-corruption sit-in outside the consultative council in Muscat, which is the equivalent of parliament but without legislative authority. Protesters in the normally placid sultanate insist that their demands are confined to reform and a crackdown on corruption, without challenging the legitimacy of the sultan who has ruled Oman for four decades. The sultan earlier announced the creation of 50,000 new jobs and a monthly allowance of 150 riyals ($390, 283 euros) for registered job seekers, and hiked the minimum wage for nationals working in the private sector from $364 to $520. He has also ordered the formation of a ministerial committee to draw up proposals to meet calls for the consultative council to be given more powers.
