Sultan Qaboos, father of modern Oman, dies
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Dubai, January 11
Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East’s longest serving rulers who maintained the country’s neutrality in regional struggles, died on Friday. His cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was named his successor in a smooth transition.
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With his death, the region loses a trusted and seasoned leader, seen as the father of modern Oman, who balanced ties between two neighbours (Saudi Arabia and Iran) locked in a regional struggle, as well as the US.
In a televised speech, Haitham promised to uphold Muscat’s policy of peaceful coexistence and friendly relations with all nations.
Oman and fellow Gulf states declared three days of official mourning with flags to be flown at half mast for the Western-backed Qaboos, 79, who ruled since taking over in a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of former colonial power Britain. He was unwell for years. — Reuters
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