Oman unrest moves up a gear after fiery sermon

Some 3,000 protesters took to the streets after worship yesterday in Oman's southern port of Salalah in one of the biggest pro-reform demonstrations since scattered unrest began in the sultanate two months ago.

Instead of conducting Friday prayers in a mosque, a preacher held them in a car park across the street from the governor's office, where about 3,000 worshippers had gathered. They marched through the streets after his sermon.

"The Omani people are not afraid of protesting for as long as it takes for reform, first and foremost is to get government officials, who have been embezzling funds for years, to stand trial," the cleric, Amer Hargan, told the crowd.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said, a US ally who has ruled Oman for 40 years, promised a $2.6 billion spending package last Sunday after nearly two months of demonstrations inspired by popular uprisings that have spread across the Arab world.

Omani demonstrators have focused their demands on better wages, jobs and an end to graft. Many are angered by the state's perceived unwillingness to prosecute ministers sacked for corruption in response to demonstrations in February.

They are also impatient to see more employment opportunities, after Sultan Qaboos vowed last month to create 50,000 jobs.

"We are still waiting for the jobs we've been promised," said protester Seif al-Basaid.