Olympic torch makes its way through ancient Muscat amid tight security

Published 11:39 am Monday, April 14, 2008

MUSCAT, Oman — The Olympic torch made its way through the steep streets of the capital of Oman on Monday on the brief Middle Eastern leg of a 20-nation tour that has been marked by chaos and protests.

Men in traditional Arab white robes, with daggers tucked in their belts, danced to the beat of drums before the torch was lit by Muscat governor Sayyed Al Mutassim bin Hamoud Al Busaidy.

Muscat’s festive mood was in sharp contrast to protests that have marred the torch relay in other countries. Officials here said any attempt to disrupt the parade would be dealt with severely.

“It’s a great honor to have the torch in Oman,” Habib Macki, vice chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee, said ahead of the opening ceremony.

Hundreds of people lined the streets to watch the torch descend from the heart of hilly Muscat and pass tourist attractions such as the Sultan’s Palace before winding along the edge of the Persian Gulf.

Dozens of policemen were deployed along the torch route, where streets were closed off and parking was banned. An army helicopter hovered overhead.

Macki said Oman was chosen for the relay because of the “excellent relationship that goes back a long way between Oman and China and the strong economic ties that bind us.”

Oman, a Muslim country at the southern end of the Arabian peninsula with a booming tourism industry, has strong economic ties with China, a major importer of its oil. Demonstrations or protests are virtually unheard of in this tightly controlled sultanate.

The Olympic flame, which began its worldwide six-continent trek from ancient Olympia in Greece on March 24, has been the focus of protests over China’s human rights record with major chaos and disruptions during its stops in Paris, London and San Francisco.