The sultanate of Oman said on Sunday, September 30, that it had budgeted to spend nine million dollars for the " Swift Sword II" Omani-British maneuvers, which are due to take place October 1-9.
In a declaration quoted by the official ONA agency, Omani air force chief General Muhammad Bin Mahfud Al-Ardhi said that "nearly 3.5 million rials ($8.9 million) will be allocated by the Omani army" for the joint maneuvers " which will be held between October 1-9."
Some 38,000 soldiers, including 14,000 from Oman will take part in the maneuvers in central Oman, which will also involve 114 warplanes, including 40 from the Omani air force, and 36 warships, 11 from the Omani navy.
According to London, the Omani war games will witness the largest deployment of British troops for maneuvers since the eighties. ― (AFP, Muscat)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
