Yemen has been rocked by the most serious unrest since 1998.
At least 40 people have been killed in riots throughout the country
sparked by a sharp increase in fuel prices last week. Yemen summoned its
military to battle protesters in Sanaa and five other cities.
On July 19, the Cabinet raised the price of gasoline by 90 percent to
1,300 rials, or $6.75 per gallon. Within hours, the price of cooking gas was
doubled, diesel oil rose by 260 percent and kerosene underwent a 250 percent
price increase. The price of public transport was also doubled, Middle East Newsline reported.
Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Qader Bajamal said the government could no
longer afford fuel subsidies. Bajamal said government subsidies for the
first half of 2005 were double that of last year.
"The people must realize that the decision is meant to favor them and
they should stay calm and not worry," Bajamal said. "You must understand
that in the end this is in your interest. If we do not take this step our
economy will break down."
It was the most serious unrest since 1998. At one point, the military deployed Soviet-origin T-72 main battle tanks
to confront protesters over the weekend. The tanks were used to protect
vital
facilities, including the palace of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Western diplomats said the unrest was the worst since 1998, when 52
people were killed after the government announced price increases. They said
the latest riots included gunmen and targeted oil facilities. Yemen is an
oil exporter.
The military deployed tanks and armored personnel carriers along major
highways leading to Sanaa. At one point, protesters tried to block a road to
Sanaa's international airport. Authorities arrested several hundred people
throughout the country.
"All the troublemakers and those who are behind them must be pursued and
punished," Saleh said. "Looting public and private properties and
destabilizing society have nothing to do with democracy and freedom of
speech."
Islah, the largest Islamic opposition party, said security forces
employed live fire against protesters. The party demanded that President Ali
Abdullah Saleh prosecute security commanders.
"The government could have saved more money by battling corruption
rather than raising prices and increasing the burden on people,"
parliamentarian Hamid Al Ahmar said.