Muscat international book fair was opened Tuesday with participation of 26 countries. Information Minister Abdulmonem Al-Hasani, chairman of the committee of the fair, said the event featured participation of more than 500 Arab and Western publishing houses. The fair will close on March 8. Al-Hasani, speaking to reporters after the opening, said the fair would feature cultural, intellectual and artistic activities. He said the fair this year expanded its indexing and was now accessible via the Ipad.