ABU DHABI ø Oman asserts that an American found dead in the Muscat
region was ordered killed by his family.
U.S. officials said the U.S. embassy in Muscat has received the Omani
police report. But they said the State Department has not yet accepted this
version of the killing of the U.S. national.
Over the weekend, Oman said it determined that the unidentified American
national, an employee with an oil company in the sultanate, was ordered
killed by his wife and son. Omani authorities said Omani nationals were
hired to kill the American last week.
The American was found dead in the Muscat governorate on Wednesday and
Omani security sources said several suspects have confessed to the killing.
The sources said authorities solved the killing within 36 hours of the
discovery of the body.
"All the accused have confessed to Royal Omani Police investigators and
material evidence has been seized," an
Omani security source said. "Once the procedures are completed, the case
will be referred to prosecutors."
The State Department has confirmed that an American was found dead in
Muscat on Dec. 31. But as of Friday the department said Oman had not relayed
details of the death.
"We don't have details on the circumstances of the death, and we'd refer
you to the Royal Oman police, who are investigating it," State Department
deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said.
Ereli did not rule out that the American was killed in an Islamic
insurgency attack. About 1,500 Americans, most of them military personnel,
live in Oman.
The Omani sources said the killing of a German national in Muscat on
Dec. 5
did not constitute an Islamic insurgency attack. They said Omani authorities
have
arrested suspects and determined that the killing was a domestic affair.
"The investigations have revealed the circumstances of the crime and the
evidence has proved that the crime was a family dispute," an Omani police
official said. "In that case as well the police have detained suspects."
