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Oman says its gas fields are secure

Oil and Gas Minister Mohammed bin Hamed al-Rumhy said: "Our gas and oilfields are safe and regularly monitored by the police and other security forces. Exports flow out smoothly and reach our customers as usual."

He said Opec has not asked the sultanate to reduce oil production after prices fell when the US-led forces intensified their attack on Iraq.

Oil prices had slumped to a four-month low of $26.30 a barrel after U.S. and British forces secured key Iraqi oilfields and ports, calming market fears of widespread destruction by Iraqi troops.

Mr Rumhy said: "Whatever happens from this point onwards, oil prices should eventually settle between $22 to $24 per barrel."

The war has provoked some protests in the oil-rich Gulf Arab region, where many citizens are already angered over US support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians.

Oman, which is not a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Opec, depends heavily on revenues from crude oil and gas. It produces about 770,000 barrels per day of crude oil and 6.6 million tonnes per year of LNG.

A transport ministry official said that Oman's airports and ports are also believed to be safe by several international shipping firms and airlines. Oman's air and sea ports face stiff competition from the United Arab Emirates, which has the highest volume of sea-air cargo handled in Asia. The emirate of Dubai is also a tourism hub for the Gulf region.