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

Torchbearer Sayyid Shihab bin Tareq al Said runs with the Olympic torch in Muscat, April 14, 2008. The Olympic torch relay in Muscat, the ninth leg of its global journey, started on Monday afternoon. [Xinhua]

The torch completed its 20-km relay smoothly in Muscat, capital of Oman - the ninth leg of its global journey - Monday 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.

Hundreds of pupils chanted "China, China" while greeting the Olympic flame during the relay, which passed Sidab Harbour, Al Alam Palace, Muscat Gate Museum, Old Merchants Houses, Al Mina Rings to reach the celebration venue Al Qurm Natural Park.

First torchbearer Sayyid Shihab bin Tareq Al Said, chair of the Oman Olympic Committee, said: "I'm exceptionally proud to carry the flame in the only Middle East stop of the Beijing Olympic torch relay The Olympic spirit unifies people under the values of peace and friendship."

The honor of lighting the cauldron went to Macki Habib, vice-president of the Oman Olympic Committee.

Rahma Marhoon, an athlete to the Beijing Paralympics and the only disabled torchbearer, said: "I didn't know much about China in the past, but now I get a chance to visit China.

"I believe the Beijing Olympic Games will be a great success."

Asked about the violent attacks on the torch relay in London and Paris, Marhoon said: "It's quite safe here, I don't need to worry about that."

The relay was the third in four days, after Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Omani-Chinese relations date back to between 1,200 and 1,500 years when Omani sailors are believed to have set sail from Sohar (240 km northwest of Muscat) to Canton in Guangdong. The journey, then the longest sea trading route in the world, gave rise to the "Silk Road of the Sea".

In the early 15th century, Zheng He, China's greatest sailor who circumnavigated the globe, visited Oman four times.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Oman.

"The Beijing Olympic Torch Relay in Oman is a milestone in bilateral relations, and is destined to intensify understanding and friendship between the two peoples," Chinese Ambassador to Oman Pan Weifang told China Daily.

The relay "is a very important milestone in the sporting annals of our country," said Hilal Ali Al Sinani, secretary-general of the Oman Olympic Committee.

Oman was the first country to express interest in hosting a leg of the 2008 Olympics global torch relay.

The torch is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad today.