BEIRUT, November 16 (RIA Novosti) - Protests over rising fuel prices continued in Jordan for a second day and spread to all major cities by Thursday evening, al-Jazeera reported.
“Situation remains tense in all Jordanian cities, the whole country has been gripped by incessant protests, from Maan in the south to Irbid in the north, including the capital Amman,” an Al-Jazeera correspondent said from the capital.
Police in Amman had to use tear gas to disperse a rally in the city center, arrests were reported.
Thousands of protestors took to the streets of Jordanian cities early on Wednesday shortly after the premier announced price hikes for gas and other fuel. At least one person was killed when protestors attacked a police department and officers fired shots at the crowd.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour announced late on Tuesday the government would scrap fuel subsidies starting from midnight in an attempt to trim the country’s growing budget deficit and secure a $2-billion IMF loan.
Jordan imports 95 percent of its energy needs. The cancellation of subsidies will lead to price hikes for all types of fuel, including a 14 percent increase in gasoline prices, 28 percent in prices for kerosene oil used for heating and 53 percent price increase for household gas.
