Oman events By ItzMousie Jan 1, 1907 British forced abolition of slavery on Sultan of Zanzibar Feb 2, 1913 Control of Oman was split, Ibadite imams ruled interior, sultan ruled coastal areas Mar 2, 1920 Sultan recognized autonomy of the interior under British-brokered agreement Apr 4, 1954 Imam began new rebellion May 5, 1964 Oil reserves were discovered Aug 7, 1967 Oil extraction began Apr 23, 1970 Sultan Said overthrown by his son, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, in a bloodless coup; Sultan Said sent to exile in London Apr 23, 1971 Sultan Qaboos started a liberalization, modernization program Jul 7, 1975 Dhofar War ended Apr 23, 1981 Oman became a member of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council Apr 23, 1996 Sultan Qaboos presented Oman's first written constitution, "Basic Statutes of the State Apr 23, 1997 Sultan Qaboos granted women the right to be elected to the Shura Council, country's consultative body, two women were elected Apr 23, 1999 Oman and United Arab Emirate signed a border agreement Apr 23, 2000 Six Persian Gulf nations signed regional defense pact Apr 23, 2002 Sultan extended voting rights to everyone over 21 years of age Apr 23, 2006 Oman and US sign a free trade deal Apr 23, 2007 Cyclone Gonu killed more than 50 people, disrupted oil production Apr 23, 2011 Protesters in Sohar demanded higher salaries, more employment opportunities, political reform
