Amnesty International has called on the Omani authorities to rein in their security forces after at least two people were reported to have been killed when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at anti-government protesters over the weekend.
The call came as demonstrators began another protest in the northern city of Sohar on Monday calling for more jobs, an end to corruption and for government officials to be sacked.
Demonstrations also took place in the southern town of Salalah.
Student Abdullah al-Ghamalasi was killed on Sunday when police opened fire with rubber bullets on about 2,000 protesters gathered at a roundabout outside a police station in Sohar.
Another man is said to have died while undergoing surgery for injuries sustained during the same protest.
Oman’s Minister of Health is reported to have acknowledged that one person had been killed by a rubber bullet but denied reports of other killings.
Unconfirmed press reports have suggested that as many as six people may have been killed in Sohar.
The police are reported to have fired rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators some of whom threw stones at the police.
Later on Sunday, masked men were said to have set fire to cars and buildings.
"The Omani security forces appear to have used excessive force against protestors, resulting in at least one death," said Malcolm Smart, director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa programme.
