DAMASCUS, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Protests and transport disruptions were reported in parts of Syria on Sunday following sharp increases in fuel prices, which authorities attributed to rising international costs, heavy dependence on imports and the shutdown of a major refinery for maintenance.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported protests, road blockages and a strike by some public transport drivers in several areas, particularly in the northeastern provinces of Hasakah and Deir al-Zour. Demonstrations and road disruptions were also reported in parts of Raqqa province.
The protests came hours after new temporary prices took effect at midnight, with diesel recording the steepest increase.
Under the new pricing bulletin, diesel rose 40 percent from 125 new Syrian pounds (about 1.03 U.S. dollars) to 175 pounds per liter. The price of 95-octane gasoline increased 28.3 percent to 195 pounds per liter, while 90-octane gasoline climbed 25.9 percent to 185 pounds.
Abdul Hamid Sallat, a media official with Syria's energy authorities, told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency on Sunday that the authorities recognized that the increases would place an additional burden on Syrians already struggling with difficult living conditions and low incomes.
However, he said Syria's heavy reliance on imported energy products meant domestic prices could not be insulated from international market fluctuations. He said Syria currently produces around 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day, covering only about one-third of domestic demand. ■
