1,500 stage protest on Salalah streets

More than two months into Salalah's peaceful sit-in that started on February 25, an estimated 1,500 people staged yet another protest march in the city after Friday prayers.

Imam Nasser Sakroon who has been addressing the crowds regularly at 'Freedom Square' since the beginning of the protests led those who were present in prayer. In his sermon, he encouraged the crowds to fight for what is right and to not tolerate corruption.

He criticised the government for not responding to many of the people's demands and for not prosecuting corrupt former government officials.  He also indicated that protesters who have been sleeping in front of the governor's office in Dhofar for the past nine weeks were losing their patience. After the prayers, supporters from mosques in the area flocked to the square to join the march.

Chanting slogans, the protesters marched out of the square, forcing police officers to stop all traffic going in and out of central Salalah. They marched up Al Nahdha Street and then came back to the square via Salalah's main highway.

Thousands of fliers inviting Omanis to join the march were distributed at colleges, the university, and other major institutions in Salalah in the days leading up to the march. There was no military or security presence in the area with the exception of police officers who were managing traffic.