12 more Protesters Jailed in Oman

An Omani court jailed 12 more protesters from the city of Sohar for up to three and a half years, a local newspaper said on Wednesday, bringing the total number of people sentenced for taking part in the unrest to 80.

The usually tranquil Gulf Arab sultanate was hit by months of protests in February, following uprisings that toppled rulers in Egypt and Tunisia. Omanis, however, focused their demands on higher salaries, many more jobs and an end to graft rather than a change of government. The court sentenced two of the protesters to three and half years in jail for “producing explosives and throwing them at security forces” . Five other people were sentenced to two and half years and the rest to one year. Last month the public prosecutor said 13 protesters were given prison sentences of up to five years for protesting in Sohar.