Rival Hong Kong politicians clashed on Friday inside the city's legislature which has been paralysed for seven months as pro-democracy politicians attempt to scupper a controversial law that bans insulting China's national anthem.
The chaotic scenes come weeks after Beijing sparked a constitutional row by calling for filibustering opposition politicians to be removed from office.
Pro-democracy lawmakers are trying to stop bills progressing to a vote in order to scuttle the anthem law.
The delays triggered angry denunciations last month from the Liaison Office, which represents Beijing in the semi-autonomous city.
Friday's clashes were sparked by a row over who gets to control the House Committee, which scrutinises bills before they go to the floor and has been without a committee leader since October.
For months pro-democracy politicians have halted the election of a president – one of the few weapons in their arsenal in the partly elected legislature that is deliberately stacked in Beijing's favour.
On Friday afternoon prominent pro-Beijing politician Starry Lee took the leader's seat after legal advice from government lawyers said she was empowered to break the deadlock.
But pro-democracy politicians, armed with their own rival legal advice, accused her of breaching the rules.
Mayhem ensued with security guards and pro-Beijing lawmakers surrounding Ms Lee as their opponents tried to access the rostrum – with one even trying to climb a wall behind them.
Security officials later dragged a number of pro-democracy lawmakers from the chamber as both camps thrust live-streaming phones and protest placards in each others' faces.
Beijing has been incensed by the paralysis and last month suggested pro-democracy politicians should be prosecuted.
Those comments sparked accusations the Liaison Office had breached a provision in the city's constitution banning the Chinese government from interfering in how Hong Kong runs itself.
The Liaison Office promptly announced it was not bound by the constitution, raising political tensions further.
The argument comes as protests begin to bubble up in Hong Kong once more.
The city was upended by seven months of violent pro-democracy protests last year. But mass arrests and the coronavirus pandemic imposed four months of comparative calm.
Shortly after the Liaison Office statements small flashmob protests rekindled, including a lunchtime rally on Friday in an upmarket mall. The latest gatherings have been swiftly put down by riot police.
Hong Kong is in a deep political crisis over its future.
Large chunks of the population fear Beijing is eroding the city's freedoms and have hit the streets in their millions asking for universal suffrage.
Beijing has dismissed those demands and the growing public anger, portraying the political unrest as a foreign-sponsored plot to destabilise the Chinese Communist Party.
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
