Muscat: Following the death of Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said, who left no heir to the throne, the police and military forces in the capital city have been put on high alert on Saturday.
Royal family to meet to appoint ruler
According to state media, along with declaring the alert status, Oman’s high military council also called for the royal family to meet to appoint the country’s next ruler, reported RT.
(FILES) In this file photo taken on August 11, 2008 Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi (R) and Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said (L) stand for their national anthems upon the latter’s arrival at Tripoli. – Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79, the Omani news agency said January 11, 2020. “With sadness … the Omani Sultanate court mourns … our Sultan Qaboos bin Said … who God chose to be by his side on Friday evening,” the agency said. Qaboos, the longest ruling Arab monarch, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP) 
(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 10, 2009 Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said (R) greets French President Nicolas Sarkozy upon his arrival in Muscat. – Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79, the Omani news agency said January 11, 2020. “With sadness … the Omani Sultanate court mourns … our Sultan Qaboos bin Said … who God chose to be by his side on Friday evening,” the agency said. Qaboos, the longest ruling Arab monarch, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer. (Photo by MOHAMMED MAHJOUB / AFP) (FILES) In this file photo taken on November 25, 2010 Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said welcomes Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II upon her arrival at Muscat following her trip to the United Arab Emirates. A – Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79, the Omani news agency said January 11, 2020. “With sadness … the Omani Sultanate court mourns … our Sultan Qaboos bin Said … who God chose to be by his side on Friday evening,” the agency said. Qaboos, the longest ruling Arab monarch, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer. (Photo by – / AFP) 
(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 19, 2008 US Vice President Dick Cheney(L) meets with Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said in Muscat, inside the Bait al Baraka(The House of Blessings), the principal private residence of the Sultan of Oman. – Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79, the Omani news agency said January 11, 2020. “With sadness … the Omani Sultanate court mourns … our Sultan Qaboos bin Said … who God chose to be by his side on Friday evening,” the agency said. Qaboos, the longest ruling Arab monarch, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer. (Photo by Paul J. RICHARDS / AFP) Ani
If the ruling family fails to come to an agreement within three days, a 1996 statute requires a committee of military leaders, court officials and lawmakers to enthrone a person named by the former sultan in private, stored in a sealed letter.
Ruler of Oman since 1970
Qaboos was 79-year-old and was ill for a long time. He has served as the ruler of Oman since 1970 when he ousted his father in a bloodless coup.
Qaboos had no children and has not publicly named his successor.
Sultan Qaboos travelled to Belgium for a week in December for what was described then as “medical checks.” He returned to Oman, but speculations of his deteriorating health were rife.