Abstract: In the process for reducing the total sulfur content of a high CO.sub.2 -content feed gas stream, the feed gas is first passed to an absorption column. The unabsorbed, high CO.sub.2 -content gas is then routed to a reduction step where it is combined with Claus off-gases and the sulfur compounds are reduced to H.sub.2 S. The treated gas is then passed to a second absorption column and the unabsorbed gas is vented to the atmosphere. The fat solvent from both absorption columns is stripped in a common stripper and the stripped gas is passed to a Claus unit for conversion to elemental sulfur.