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Municipal officials in Beijing announced sweeping plans Monday to stop construction and close heavy industry to improve air quality ahead of the Olympics.

The city's environmental protection body said they would order a halt to all digging and concrete pouring on construction sites starting July 20, well ahead of the Games to be held Aug. 8-24. Nineteen industries deemed heavy air polluters have been told to cut their emissions by 30 per cent.

Pollution — in addition to the violence in Tibet and other human rights issues — has been a major concern for China in the lead up to the Olympics.

Some athletes have said they won't be competing in longer track and field events if pollution concerns aren't addressed.

Torch arrives in Oman

In the latest stop on its worldwide tour, the Olympic torch arrived in the Persian Gulf state of Oman Monday. The torch, with its contingent of Chinese officials and athletes, came from Tanzania.

Thousands cheered as the flaming symbol of the Games was carried through the streets of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city.

There had been big protests by people opposed to China's violent suppression of unrest in Tibet last month on earlier stops for the torch, in London, England, Paris and San Francisco.

The next stop will be Islamabad, Pakistan, where President Pervez Musharraf has warned against protests or demonstrations. Speaking Monday during a visit to Beijing, Musharraf said extra security had been arranged for the torch relay in Pakistan.

"We have to take care that there is no infiltration by some elements who are bent on disrupting our understanding and great relationship," Musharraf said. China and Pakistan are close allies and any disruption of the torch in Islamabad would be a major embarrassment to Musharraf.

China has reacted angrily to the protests in the U.S. and Europe, accusing the media of biased reporting on Tibet.

Some world leaders have said they might boycott the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Games if the situation in Tibet doesn’t improve, among them British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Ottawa says there are no plans for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to attend the opening ceremony so the question of a boycott does not arise. U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to attend the ceremony, White House officials have said.

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