The sultanate of Oman became the latest Arab nation to be hit by public unrest when as many as 2,000 of demonstrators took to the streets of the northeast port city of Sohar. The first significant protest quickly turned violent and deadly as protestors tangled with riot police who were firing rubber bullets and tear gas. Two men were killed in the melee. As with the other nations hit by demonstrations, the protestors were complaining about the cost of living, the dearth of jobs and the need for political reforms. Like Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya, Oman’s leader has been in power for decades. Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who has ruled for 40 years, responded to the situation by ordering the creation of 50,000 jobs and a monthly stipend of about $380 per month for every job-seeker.