Angry protests erupt in Iran over petrol rationing
Friday, 29 June 2007
TEHRAN, June 28 (AFP): Angry demonstrators torched petrol stations and long queues formed at heavily-guarded fuel pumps yesterday after oil-rich Iran announced the start of fuel rationing, triggering nationwide protests.
Motorists trying to stock up on fuel clashed with armed police after the surprise announcement rationing would take effect from midnight Tuesday, with some shouting slogans against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
It is the first such open outpouring of anger since Ahmadinejad took office in 2005, although criticism has mounted in some economic circles that his policies were fuelling inflation and hurting the poor.
Tehran fire service spokesman Behrouz Tashakor said the city's firefighting teams had reported 12 petrol stations ablaze, according to the Fars news agency.
Iranian state run radio denounced the vandalism, laying the blame on "agitators."
An official said 80 people had been arrested in connection with the violence.
"They are accused of destroying public property," justice official Ali Namazi was quoted as saying by Fars. "These troublemakers have been jailed," he added. Iran, OPEC's number two oil producer and the fourth in the world, announced Tuesday that rationing aimed at reducing colossal state petrol subsidies and massive consumption would extend to private cars and taxis.
Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh said the government was considering whether an extra quota could be introduced in two months to be sold without subsidies that keep prices at 10 cents a litre, among the lowest in the world.
Motorists trying to stock up on fuel clashed with armed police after the surprise announcement rationing would take effect from midnight Tuesday, with some shouting slogans against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
It is the first such open outpouring of anger since Ahmadinejad took office in 2005, although criticism has mounted in some economic circles that his policies were fuelling inflation and hurting the poor.
Tehran fire service spokesman Behrouz Tashakor said the city's firefighting teams had reported 12 petrol stations ablaze, according to the Fars news agency.
Iranian state run radio denounced the vandalism, laying the blame on "agitators."
An official said 80 people had been arrested in connection with the violence.
"They are accused of destroying public property," justice official Ali Namazi was quoted as saying by Fars. "These troublemakers have been jailed," he added. Iran, OPEC's number two oil producer and the fourth in the world, announced Tuesday that rationing aimed at reducing colossal state petrol subsidies and massive consumption would extend to private cars and taxis.
Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh said the government was considering whether an extra quota could be introduced in two months to be sold without subsidies that keep prices at 10 cents a litre, among the lowest in the world.