Oman to hold first ever municipal polls

MUSCAT: Oman, which has an elected house with limited powers, will hold its first-ever municipal polls on December 22 to elect councils for the sultanate, a top official said on Wednesday.

"The interior ministry has finalised preparations for the municipal elections in 11 Omani provinces," the ministry's undersecretary Khaled al-Busaidi told AFP.

The Gulf state currently has only one municipal council in the capital and its members are all appointed. The new councils will also include appointed members.

The councils will have no executive powers, according to a decree issued by Sultan Qaboos last year, in which he said that they will "present recommendations regarding improving municipal services."

Oman's elected Majlis al-Shura, created in 1991, has the authority to question ministers and advise the government on socio-economic issues but has no legislative power or role in defence, internal security or foreign policy.

The sultanate, where political parties are banned, also has an all-appointed Council of State, a 57-seat upper chamber which together with the Majlis makes up the Council of Oman.

The normally peaceful sultanate was caught up last year in the protests sweeping the Arab world, with demonstrators taking to the streets in late February to demand improved living conditions.

In the northern city of Sohar, two demonstrators were shot dead in clashes between police and protesters.