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Omani Leader Meets US Defense Secretary
Omani Sultan Qabus Bin Said met Thursday with visiting US Defense Secretary Ronald Rumsfeld on bilateral ties and the latest developments in the international arena in the Omani capital Muscat, the Omani News Agency reported.
While speculating that Omani bases will play an important role in the possible U.S-led campaign against terrorism, some local media reported that during the visit, Rumsfeld has expressed thanks to Oman for its logistic support for the U.S. efforts to combat terrorism.
Rumsfeld's visit to Oman drew the world's attention because there were 23,000 British soldiers and 10 warships involved in a military exercise with the Omani armed forces off Oman's coasts.
Western analysts said that the British troops could help in any U.S. military strikes against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime, which is harboring Saudi-borne millionaire Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect of the anti-U.S. terror attacks on September 11.
Moreover, there were unconfirmed reports that hundreds of U.S troops have been recently deployed in Oman.
Rumsfeld is on a shuttle tour to drum up support for the U.S. move against terrorism. He visited Saudi Arabia Wednesday evening, and will also visit Egypt and Uzbekistan.
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