Powerful Cyclone Gonu Strikes Oil-Rich Persian Gulf

MUSCAT, Oman — Thousands of people fled low-lying areas as the strongest cyclone to threaten the Arabian Peninsula in 60 years blasted Oman's eastern coast early Wednesday with strong winds and waves, Civil Defense officials said.

Southern Iran and the oil-rich Persian Gulf were next in its path.

Click here for FOXNews.com's Middle East center.

Cyclone-force winds of Gonu, which had been churning northwest through the Indian Ocean, reached the Omani coastal towns of Sur and Ra's al-Hadd. Civil Defense said the storm was dropping heavy rains on the capital, Muscat, and other nearby towns, but it was not known if the storm was causing any damage.

Cyclone Gonu had weakened somewhat during the day but was still packing winds of up to 106 mph and churning up ocean waves of several feet, the officials said. More

Photo of a jail Mate Beaten By Police

Tension Is High In Male'

After the reports of new death in Maafushi tension is high in male'. There is heavy police presence all around government offices including Television Maldives, Voice of Maldives and Presidential Palace. There is also heavy police presence near mercury light cafe'.

Reports of another death in Maafushi jail

Male' - 03:45 - Reliable sources have confirmed that Muslih Abbas, 25, was beaten to death in Maafushi jail last night and his body is not being brought to the capital Male'. His Father, Zaithoonimaagey Abbas told DO that he heard about the news and as far as he is concerned his son's dead body is now being brought to Male'. Several people are now waiting near the hospital (IGHM) in Male' along with Muslih's father. Tension has been very high in Maafushi jail over the past 3 days, as we reported earlier. There are reports of other deaths but we are unable to independently verify those reports as yet.

Cabin Crew Walkout At MAT

One day after Malé taxi drivers began the first strike in Maldivian history, all thirty five cabin crew staff of Maldivian Air Taxi (MAT) have staged a walkout in protest at low pay.

MAT is one of two internal airlines offering transfers to tourist resorts. On Monday it could only provide a skeleton service with several of its twenty-two planes grounded and up to eight hundred tourists effected.

Even this service was possible only after the Civil Aviation Department controversially intervened to temporarily suspend regulations requiring all flights to be manned by licensed cabin crew staff.

Striking Taxi Drivers Make Maldivian History

A new form of political protest has come to the Maldives. The estimated seven hundred taxi drivers of Malé have begun the first strike in the country’s history. None of the drivers took fares on Sunday and hundreds gathered to protest against rising fuel prices.