Oman's Sultan Qaboos Bin Said dies, successor vows to pursue peace

Omanis took to social media to mourn the death of a ruler who had made regular tours of the country to speak to citizens, often driving his own four-wheel drive in the convoys

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 and his cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was named as his successor in a smooth transition.

With his death, the region loses a trusted and seasoned leader, seen as the father of modern Oman, who balanced ties between two neighbours locked in a regional struggle, Saudi Arabia to the west and Iran to the north, as well as the United States.

In a televised speech, Haitham promised to uphold Muscat's policy of peaceful coexistence and friendly relations with