Omani pilgrims protest treatment received in Saudi Arabia

An official in the Omani police on Tuesday in Muscat expressed his regret over the bad treatment the Omani pilgrims received by the Saudi customs men upon passing through border crossings between the two countries. He stressed that Muscat "cannot keep silent over this matter."

AFP quoted Lt. gen. Ahmad Bin Abdullah Muqiebal, the assistant inspector general for the police and customs, as saying that this issue was discussed on different levels and that Saudi officials promised to settle this matter.

Muqiebal said this behavior by the Saudi side cannot be retaliated because it is an "individual behaviour" by certain people in the Saudi land border points.

Omani pilgrims complained against the bad treatment they received from Saudi police and customs men who forced them to wait 24 hours for inspections at the border points.