Omani protesters in a stand off with security forces

Protest on a street in Muscat About 1,000 protesters were engaged in a standoff with the security agencies in Sohar after being denied to take out a peaceful march after Maghrib prayers at the Shaikh Khalifa Mosque. \"About 1,000 people have gathered with some coming from outside Sohar after a call given on social media to take out march demanding release of all detainees from the Industrial Port town,” Sultan Al Saadi, an activist, told Gulf news from Sohar.
He said that protesters had planned to take out a rally after Maghrib prayers but were stopped near on the service road in Tariff Area so they stay put around Safeer Mall.
\"The police wanted us to choose our representatives and send them for talks but people refused saying that they had sent their demands in writing,\" he said, adding that people gathered want every detainee to be released.
Al Saadi said that the protesters were determined not to move until some action was shown from the authorities.
Until midnight protesters had refused to go home but no untoward incident was reported.
Protests in Oman started on January 17 and then gradually spread to Salalah, Sur, Ibri and Sohar where demonstrations turned violent at the end of last February when police fired tear gas, rubber bullets as well as live bullets. Three people have died in police firing so far and over dozen have been sentenced to prison for blocking roads, assaulting public servants, disturbing public life and other charges.
After a crackdown on last May 13, demonstrations had stopped but seemed to have picked again earlier this month after Sohar activists were sentenced to jail.from gulfnews.