Country Italian runs off to (4)

I believe the answer is:

oman

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'country' is the definition.
(Oman is an example)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for oman that I've seen before include "Sultanate on the south-east coast of the Arabian Peninsula" , "Nation" , "Arabian country, capital Muscat" , "Arab state" , "Former Gulf country, Muscat and --" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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