Briefly

MIDDLE EAST

Gulf states condemn Oman mosque attack

Gulf Arab states have condemned a shooting claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group at a Shiite mosque in Oman, an unprecedented attack for the normally stable sultanate that has sparked concern among its neighbors. Monday's shooting killed at least six people and wounded 28, police said. Neighboring United Arab Emirates expressed its "strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence". Bahrain's Foreign Ministry called the shooting a "heinous attack that goes against all religious and moral values and aims to destabilize the security and stability of Oman". The Secretary-General of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem al-Budaiwi "affirmed the full support and solidarity of GCC countries "with their fellow member state.

BANGLADESH

Govt orders closure of colleges after protests

Bangladesh said it will indefinitely shut down all public and private universities from Wednesday after protests by students against civil service hiring rules turned deadly this week. Six people were killed on Tuesday in clashes around the country as rival student groups attacked each other with bamboo rods and hurled bricks, while police dispersed rallies with tear gas and rubber bullets. It was the most violent day so far in weeks of rallies demanding the end of a quota system for lucrative government jobs that opponents say unfairly benefits members of the ruling party.

Agencies via Xinhua