Muscat: The peaceful stand-off in Muscat, Sohar and Salalah entered its sixth day yesterday.
A minor incident of arson was however, reported in Ibri, 175km northwest of Muscat, in the wee hours.
The protesters, who are staging a sit-in outside Majlis Ashura in Seeb area of the capital, have reiterated their loyalty and love for the nation's ruler Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed.
"Why are there attempts to create divisions," asked Basma Al Kiyumi, an advocate and one of the several women protesters camping outside the Shura building.
Speaking to Gulf News, she urged local media and the Ministry of Information not to portray protesters as violent.
"We are against any violence and would strongly discourage any such attempt," she said, adding that the protesters were determined to continue their sit-in as long as their demands are not met.
Talking about the loyalty rally that took place two days ago, she said that the rally completely blocked the main highway.
"If we protesters would have done, accusing fingers would have been pointed at them."
She pointed out that protesters in Muscat have been peaceful and have refrained from disrupting the daily life of people.
No coordination
Basma said that there was no high level coordination between protesters in three major cities.
"Probably there has been some coordination at a lower level but there's need to increase that now," she added,
When asked what if there are no further signs that the protesters' demands were accepted by the government, she said: "We have not decided on any future course, we will wait and see."
Talking about the spate of concessions announced recently following the Green March and subsequent protests, Basma, talking on behalf of the protesters at Shura building, said that major demands like removal of corrupt minister, high ranking police officials and apology to the family of boys killed in police action are not yet been addressed.
On the announcement of 50,000 jobs and other measures, she said that there was no clear cut strategy.
"It is still not clear how and where they are going create 50,000 jobs, in public or private sector?" she said.
With other protesters nodding in agreement, Basma said only part of the demands are met. "We want to see that all our demands are accepted," she said.
In Sohar, the Globe Roundabout was cleared to allow vehicles to pass from morning till after 2pm but then the protesters, who have pitched tents in the centre of the roundabout, blocked the junction by placing big pipes. However, witnesses said that calm had returned to the town and shops had opened everywhere.
Fire
Unidentified suspects set some shops in Ibri on fire in the early hours yesterday but the timely arrival of the fire brigade saved the situation, according to an eye witness.
"One shop selling cosmetics and owned by an Omani was gutted along with a brand new van parked near the shop," the eye witness said, adding that it was around 4am when the shops were set on fire.
He said that all jewellery shops in Ibri were shut after protests started three days ago.
Meanwhile, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed and Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, on Wednesday night held a meeting at Hisn Al Shumoukh in northwest of Oman during which they reviewed the strong brotherly relations binding the two countries and their brotherly people.
