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Olympic torch set for 'peaceful' trip through Oman

14/04/2008

The Olympic torch has arrived in Oman ahead of a relay expected to pass without controversy.

The path of the flame has been disrupted in London and Paris after protests against China's perceived human rights abuses in Tibet, while its journey through San Francisco left thousands of spectators confused after the torch disappeared from view for more than 45 minutes.

But after its arrival in Muscat, the capital of the Gulf sultanate, parade organisers expect a relatively trouble-free procession in a city in which demonstrations are few and far between.

The flame will be carried through the city in the evening, so as to shield its bearers from anticipated daytime temperatures of 40C.

The torch will leave Muscat on Tuesday morning and head to Islamabad, with Pakistani president Pervez Musharaff stressing that it will pass through the capital without incident.

Speaking after an address at Tsinghua University in Bejiing, Mr Musharaff said the government has "taken all measures" to protect the torch.

The flame's journey from Islamabad to the Indian capital New Delhi could, however, be marred by protests at Pakistan's support of Chinese policy in Tibet and the close diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The Olympic torch is scheduled to travel through to Tibet between June 19th and June 21st but representatives of the Free Tibet campaign have called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to prevent this "abhorrent sight".

Matt Whitticase of Free Tibet said in a statement last week that China must not be permitted to "parade the torch triumphantly in front of a cowed and repressed Tibetan people".

"It… would only provoke further protests by Tibetans, leading to further brutality and killings by the Chinese security forces," he added.