Muscat pumps up the music, lights up the sky

MUSCAT: After a two-week trip spanning Europe, the Americas and sub-Saharan Africa, the Olympic flame returned to Asia.

The torch completed its 20-km relay smoothly in Muscat, capital of Oman - the ninth leg of its global journey - last night amid celebrations, fireworks, music and cheers.

The four-hour relay started at 5 pm (9 pm, Beijing time) at Al Bustan in the eastern part of the city where more than 1,000 people including 200 Chinese who work in Oman were present, waving Omani and Chinese flags.