FEATURE-After popular protests, Oman starts to pursue graft | Reuters:
"MUSCAT, March 23 (Reuters) - Young Omanis who took to the streets in 2011 to demand jobs and better economic prospects failed to trigger the mass protests that transformed other parts of the Arab world in their own Gulf state.
But they may have had an impact all the same, as authorities are making a start on a task that, even if coincidentally, meets one of the protesters' key demands - fighting corruption.
Omanis say graft has long blighted their country, one of the least wealthy Gulf Arab Western allies. While most states in the region fare badly in global corruption perception reports, Transparency International groups Oman among the worst performers, together with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.
"The government's campaign (is part of a response) ... to the 2011 popular demands, smoking out the termites that infested the structure and making Oman's economy more competitive through transparency and fair and free competition," said Ahmed Al-Mukhaini, a former assistant secretary-general for Oman's consultative Shura Council who advises on the country's political affairs."
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