~heavy rain in Oman~

A powerful cyclone which skirted the coast of Oman early today, appeared to be weakening and moving north through a major shipping channel towards Iran. Tropical cyclone Gonu, which earlier reached the level of a maximum-force Category Five hurricane, was the strongest to reach Oman's coast since 1977, the Omani weather service said, with strong winds and heavy rains pummelling the coast and forcing thousands from their homes.