Protesters stage Oman's biggest pro-reform demo
OMAN: Some 3,000 protesters took to the streets after Friday prayers
in Oman's southern port of Salalah in one of the biggest pro-reform
demonstrations since scattered unrest began in the sultanate two months
ago.
Instead of conducting prayers in a mosque, a preacher held them in a
car park across the street from the governor's office, where about 3,000
worshippers had gathered. They marched through the streets after his
sermon.
"The Omani people are not afraid of protesting for as long as it
takes for reform, first and foremost is to get government officials, who
have been embezzling funds for years, to stand trial," the cleric, Amer
Hargan, told the crowd.
Sultan Qaboos bin Said, a U.S. ally who has ruled Oman for 40 years,
promised a $2.6 billion spending package last Sunday after nearly two
months of demonstrations inspired by popular uprisings that have spread
across the Arab world.
Many are angered by the state's perceived unwillingness to prosecute
ministers sacked for corruption in response to demonstrations in
February.
Salalah, Sunday Reuters |
