Muscat A demonstration against the Syrian regime in Muscat was marred by the appearance of a few supporters of the Syrian President Bashar Al Assad outside their country's embassy in Al Khuwair District here Tuesday evening.
Some Omani activists had planned the demonstration although no formal permission was given. As soon as the protesters, comprising Omanis, Syrians as well as some Libyans, started raising slogans against Al Assad, a small group of pro-Al Assad arrived and began shouting slogans in support of their leader.
The shouting match went on for about 30 minutes in front of the heavy police presence, including black commandos. To avoid any ugly turn of events the police intervened and dispersed the demonstrations.
Later, the police was seen taking away a Syrian flag from an open car to prevent any continuation of show of strength.
"We were surprised to see the pro-Bashar demonstrators," Omani activist Esmail Al Muqbali, who was one of the many Omani participants, told Gulf News.
He regretted that the police did not do anything to turn back Al Assad supporters.
Al Muqbali also praised the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) decision to pull out its ambassadors from Syria with immediate effect because of President Bashar Al Assad's refusal to accept Arab attempts to end the bloodshed. "This is a very good decision and we all welcome," he said, adding that he was expecting this decision to come much earlier.
An anti-Bashar Syrian demonstrator said that the President should be removed with immediate effect. "He is killing people and has no right to continue," said the protester, who only identified himself as Abu Zaki.
On the other hand, Yahya Arbaid, an Al Assad supporter, claimed that terrorists did all the killing in Syria and the President was not responsible for the death of people.
