As of 1 March, street demonstrations in the oil-rich Gulf state of Oman are in their fourth day.
The protests have been centred in the state's main industrial city, Sohar. Al Jazeera reports: "Hundreds of protesters blocked access to an industrial area that includes the port, a refinery and aluminium factory...
"'We want to see the benefit of our oil wealth distributed evenly to the population', one protester yelled over a loudhailer near the port".
Like other despots, the Sultan of Oman has responded by handing out cash but so far refusing to move on democracy. The state is an absolute monarchy, with only an "advisory council", and all political parties banned.
The Sultan has increased the minimum salaries of private sector workers by 43 per cent; promised 50,000 new government jobs; offered an increase in stipends for students and the unemployed; and replaced six cabinet members.
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